New Delhi, October 04: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for making a special arrangement for over 6,700 Haj pilgrims from the state in absence of a direct flight to Mecca from Srinagar this year.
Omar met the Prime Minister and apprised him of the situation that has arisen after national carrier Air India lost the bid this year to Saudi airlines for ferrying pilgrims from India.
“I have sought his intervention and hope we bring some respite to pilgrims from my state. This has happened for the first time since 2000 when direct flights for Haj were started directly from Kashmir,” Omar said meeting the Prime Minister.
6,776 pilgrims from the Valley will be performing Haj this year.
“The Prime Minister has assured me to look into the matter,” Omar said.
–Agencies