New Delhi, May 4 — Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain has challenged the BJP-led government over a last-minute rise in costs for Hajj pilgrims, calling the charge unexpected and unfair for families who plan and save for years for the pilgrimage.
Hussain said the increase was especially surprising given repeated government statements that developments in West Asia have not harmed India’s energy security. He pointed out that the union petroleum minister had maintained global oil shocks were absorbed by the government rather than passed on to citizens. In a post on X, Hussain asked why an extra ₹10,000 introduced at the final stage was being imposed on pilgrims and why, he argued, travel had become more costly and uncertain for ordinary families amid high prices and weak regulation under the current administration.
Responding, Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the central government stepped in to limit an even larger increase in Hajj airfares after airlines cited higher operational costs following geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Rijiju said airlines initially sought a $400 rise, but senior ministry negotiators brought that down to $100 for pilgrims booked through the Hajj Committee of India; the negotiated increase for private operators was $150. He stressed the government’s aim was to prevent financially vulnerable pilgrims from being priced out of the Hajj.
The two statements reflect competing views on why fares rose and how much of the increase should be absorbed by the state versus passed on to travellers.
