New Delhi, October 21: Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to withdraw the Rs 4000 hike in airfare of Haj pilgrims.
In a letter to the PM, he said that pilgrims had booked their tickets in advance and the increase in airfare would cause a financial hardships to the Hajis.
Several pilgrims hail from poor financial background and the hike caused severe resentment among the Muslim community in general and Hajis in particular, he said in the letter.
Ahmed has suggested that Haj affairs should be managed in a professional manner through a corporate structure.
–Agencies