State Haj Committees are pressing Haj Committee of India (HCI) to replace the airline which transports the pilgrims from India to the Kingdom. “The Uttar Pradesh Haj Committee has decided to shift from Air India to Saudi Arabian Airlines to send pilgrims to Jeddah,” said sources in India, adding this has been done because of the step-motherly treatment to pilgrims who travel by Air India. Spokesman of Bihar Haj Committee Abu Talib Rahmani also demanded the government to invite global tenders for transporting Indian pilgrims. “We try our best to fulfill the needs. As far as Air India is concerned this is up to government of India to take a decision. Saudi Arabian Airlines will also have to decide how many pilgrims it wants to carry,” said K.M. Kurrien, western region manager of Air India, in Jeddah. “Haj committee is privileged to present its views to Indian government, but it is not a decision maker,” he stressed. Last year, India sent 157,000 pilgrims. Of them, 110,000 came through HCI and 47,000 through private tour operators. Pilgrims who are booked through HCI travel by Air India. For this service, the government of India pays the airline thousands of rupees per passenger. This subsidy covers 5 percent of total annual revenue of the airline. Returning pilgrims often complain of problems like delayed flights, extra baggage surcharge, missing Zamzam cans and lost baggage. Deputy Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Haj Committee Mohammad Jawed Khan has been quoted as saying in the media that the State Haj Committee sent a letter to HCI and the Government of India making it clear that it will not avail of Air India services. “Well, I have no idea about this statement of deputy secretary,” said Kurrien. “Every year, some 120,000 to 130,000 pilgrims undertake the Haj from India. Air India carries 50 percent while the other 50 percent are carried by Saudi Arabian Airlines. It's totally up to the Government of India and Saudi Arabian Airlines as to how many pilgrims they want to transport. Indian government decides as to which point must be operated by Air India and which point by Saudi Arabian Airlines,” he said. Kurrien said that he does not think Saudi Arabian Airlines would be able to carry all 120,000 pilgrims from India. “They also have to look into their own operational issues and constrains,” he said. Several chairmen of State Haj Committees demanded at All India Haj Conference earlier this year that more power should be vested with the HCI and State Hajj Committees. They demanded the constitution of a core committee to maintain contact among ministries of external affairs, civil aviation, Haj Committee of India and state Haj Committees. As a future course of action, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry is believed to have decided that Air India will prepare a plan so that baggage and Zamzam cans can be delivered without much hassle to Hajis on their return. Earlier this year, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Union Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee told Saudi Gazette that hurdles in carrying Zamzam have been removed. “I am assuring that there would be no such problem in future. We are facing sharp reactions because of troubles faced by Hajis,” he said. Zainul Abedin, Executive Officer of Bihar State Haj Committee, believes that the hired planes were of lesser capacity than the craft hired previous year, and were unable to carry pilgrims with their luggage. That's why the planes took off with Hajis only, leaving their luggage at Jeddah airport. Abedin said that they have sent a proposal to HCI to hire other airlines in place of Air India. The Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court has also asked the Union government, Air India, Central Haj Committee and state Haj committees to explain why such treatment was meted out. Pleading for the applicant, it was said the Government of India had made the agreement with Air India that every Haji could bring 10 liters of Zamzam water at charges of SR13 per liter. A similar agreement was made to bring back Hajis' luggage. But, breaching the agreements, Air India demanded SR55 from every Hajji for carrying Zamzam water. The airline also refused to carry Hajis' luggage. It was also put before the court that Hajis were called at airport up to five days ahead of scheduled flights. This added to their miseries as they had to stay there without food being served to them. No arrangement was made for the treatment of ailing Hajis. The court was requested to order the airline to refund the extra money taken from Hajis, and also compensate them. Air India allows baggage allowance of 45 kilogram per pilgrim, 10 liter of Zamzam water free of cost and excess baggage at a subsidized rate. The government grants subsidy in airfare, makes arrangements for the transportation of the pilgrims going through the HCI and facilitates provision of lodging and other logistic support for them. HCI provides to the pilgrims information regarding confirmation of their seats, travel documents, transportation, accommodation, medical assistance, release of foreign exchange, information on embarkation points and departure dates etc. __
