In a significant intervention aimed at addressing the concerns of Haj pilgrims returning to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, urging the Centre to ensure that checked-in baggage of pilgrims is transported along with them and not separately.
The Chief Minister stressed that timely and secure transportation of baggage would help preserve the sanctity attached to items brought back from the holy pilgrimage and prevent unnecessary hardship to pilgrims and their families.
The letter comes amid growing concern among returning Haj pilgrims after authorities announced that due to operational constraints and ongoing maintenance work at Srinagar Airport, pilgrims arriving from Saudi Arabia via Ahmedabad would not receive their checked-in baggage upon arrival in Kashmir. Instead, the baggage is being transported separately by road and is expected to reach the Valley several days later.
In his communication to the Union Minister, Omar Abdullah underscored the emotional, religious and practical difficulties being faced by pilgrims, many of whom are elderly and have undertaken the sacred journey after years of preparation, savings and anticipation.The Chief Minister noted that the matter is not merely an administrative or logistical concern but one that directly impacts the religious sentiments of thousands of Haj pilgrims and their families.
“Pilgrims, many of whom are elderly and have undertaken this spiritual journey after years of devotion and preparation, have expressed considerable concern regarding the arrangement made for the transportation of their checked-in baggage upon return,” the Chief Minister stated in the letter.
He pointed out that Haj pilgrims traditionally carry back sacred items including Zamzam water, dates, prayer articles and gifts for relatives and neighbours. The delayed delivery of baggage has disrupted these long-established customs associated with the completion of the pilgrimage.
According to the Chief Minister, the current arrangement has created disappointment among families eagerly awaiting the return of their loved ones from the holy land. In Kashmir, the arrival of Haj pilgrims is traditionally marked by visits from relatives, neighbours and well-wishers, who gather to welcome them and receive blessings.The inability of pilgrims to immediately access their belongings has affected these social and religious traditions.
The issue has emerged due to ongoing runway maintenance and operational restrictions at Srinagar Airport, which have reduced aircraft carrying capacity on certain sectors. Consequently, the baggage of pilgrims travelling from Ahmedabad to Srinagar is being routed separately.While the authorities have maintained that the arrangement is temporary and necessitated by technical requirements, the move has triggered concern among pilgrims who expected to receive their belongings immediately upon arrival.
Seeking urgent intervention from the Civil Aviation Ministry, Omar Abdullah requested that a mechanism be put in place to ensure that checked-in baggage travels on the same flights carrying Haj pilgrims to Jammu and Kashmir.He argued that simultaneous transportation of passengers and baggage would significantly reduce inconvenience and restore confidence among the pilgrims.
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