Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Oct 24 (JKNS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the Jammu and Kashmir Government was prepared to use its own budget to facilitate the return of stranded Kashmiri Umrah pilgrims from Saudi Arabia if the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was unable to provide financial assistance or arrange their return.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, CM Omar acknowledged the difficulties faced by pilgrims following flight cancellations, saying people from several states across the country were stranded in Saudi Arabia.
“I know that this is an issue, a problem, and it is not only our people who are trapped. People from different states all over the country are stuck in Saudi Arabia due to cancellation of flights,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government was discussing the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs, clarifying that the primary difficulty was not the complete suspension of flights but the steep rise in airfares, which had made alternative travel arrangements unaffordable for many passengers.
“The problem is that the prices of tickets have increased a lot. Those people who are stuck there, who had booked their tickets on a budget airline, find it difficult to book their tickets in a new way,” Omar said.
He said the J&K Government would continue to engage with the MEA to find a solution and ensure that the stranded pilgrims could return home.
The Chief Minister gave an assurance that if the Ministry of External Affairs lacked the funds to facilitate their return or assist them in booking tickets, the Jammu and Kashmir Government would step in.
“If our people are stuck, if the Ministry of External Affairs does not have the budget to bring them back or to help them in booking their tickets, then we will use our budget to bring them back,” he said.
The assurance comes amid concerns over the financial hardship faced by 34 Kashmiri pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia after their scheduled return journeys were disrupted, leaving several struggling to meet expenses for accommodation, food and medicines. (JKNS)
