Srinagar, Oct 29: The J&K Association for Hajj and Umrah Companies today discussed arrangements of Hajj 2010.
At a meeting here today the association members discussed threadbare the steps they have taken in regard to accommodation, catering, camps, etc. for the pilgrims of Hajj 2010.
The members said they would not compromise on services to the pilgrims even as they were facing lot of odds due to increase in charges. The members resolved that they would continue to render quality services to the pilgrims.
The meeting observed with dismay that a “meagre quota of 300 seats has been allotted to the private tour operators in Kashmir by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India out of over 49000 total seats allotted to the private tour operators across the country.”
“However, for the convenience of the aspiring pilgrims in Kashmir we have arranged 1500 Hajj seats/visas through registered PTOs outside the state. This is not an easy task and the efforts made by the PTOs need appreciation,” they said.
The members alleged that the Ministry of External Affairs had withheld the Hajj quota of few companies on “flimsy grounds.”
The members said that even as the Delhi High Court vide its order dated 21 October had directed release of quota in favour of these companies, they have to receive the quota.
The members said many companies of Kashmir were getting Hajj seats/visa from these companies, and “by the withholding of the quota, the pilgrims/clients of these companies have been put to inconvenience.”
However, the members said that in case in case they did not succeed in getting these seats, “these pilgrims shall be accommodated next year in the first place.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST