The Congress on Sunday (May 3, 2026) demanded the immediate withdrawal of the April 28 circular issued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, which requires Haj pilgrims to make an additional payment by May 15th, alleging that the circular was issued without justification or prior consultation and was a result of mismanagement by the government.
Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain, in a post on “X”, also sought a full refund of all amounts collected under the circular and structural reforms of the Ministry’s management of the Haj pilgrimage. He called for mandatory competitive tendering and a Haj Price Stability Framework before the 2027 season.
Airfare hike of ₹10,000 for Haj pilgrims draws criticism
“Pilgrims had already paid the full amount in multiple instalments over many months. Many of them are elderly, and many are already in Saudi Arabia to perform the Haj. The hardship they face is not only financial. It is the direct consequence of mismanagement and of being treated as a revenue consideration rather than as citizens entitled to basic protection and dignity,” said Mr. Hussain.
He said the government’s justification that rising fuel prices had necessitated the additional charge ran contrary to its own claims that the energy sector remained stable and citizens had been insulated against external shocks. “On what basis, then, is this burden being placed specifically on Haj pilgrims? If fuel costs have not warranted a broader public burden, why are pilgrims being asked to absorb this increase at the very last moment, after having already paid in full?” he asked.
