Trouble mounts for Indian private Haj tour operators amid central government's delay
New Delhi: The delayed response from the Minority Affairs Department of the Central Government has posed a challenge for private tour operators tasked with facilitating VIP accommodations for pilgrims embarking on the Holy Haj pilgrimage from various states, including Karnataka.
In a customary arrangement during the Hajj pilgrimage the government of Saudi Arabia used to to establish tents near Meena in the city of Makkah,. Typically, tour operators would transfer funds to an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) to cover expenses such as tents and transportation. However, a new regulation implemented by the Saudi Arabian government requires tour operators worldwide to deposit funds into the accounts of their respective country's Hajj-related government missions in Makkah.
Consequently, Indian private tour operators have been instructed to deposit funds into the account of the Indian Hajj Mission, which will manage the finances and provide operators with the necessary account details for conducting transactions. While Hajj ministries in South Asian countries like the UAE, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have already facilitated similar arrangements for their operators, the Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs has yet to authorize such transactions.
This delay has left many private tour operators in a precarious position, as some operators mistakenly transferred funds to the old IBAN account, resulting in financial setbacks. Failure to provide promised VIP accommodations in Meena could lead to significant challenges and potential embarrassment for reputable tour operators, especially if pilgrims are left dissatisfied.
Shaukat Ali Sultan, President of the Karnataka Haj Organizers Association, expressed concerns over the situation, highlighting the urgency for government intervention. He emphasized the need for Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani to engage in negotiations with the Saudi Arabian government to address the issue and ensure smoother operations for future Hajj seasons. Failure to resolve the matter could result in logistical challenges and inconvenience for both tour operators and pilgrims.
"Private tour operators all over the country are facing problems due to this new rule. The Indian Hajj Mission will not do any work without the direction from the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs. Several tour operators have already brought their problems to the attention of the Central Government through email. However, no response has been received from the Central Government." He said.
"All the government offices are closed in Saudi Arabia due to the Ramadan festival. The offices will probably start from Monday. If the Ministry of Minority Affairs does not come to our aid in this matter, the situation may worsen. We were happy because we got the certificates quickly this time. But, now we are stuck in the matter of payment.
"Normally, the process of issuing Hajj visa was started from the 20th of Shawwal. However, this time they started from the 10th of Ramadan. However, we are facing a big problem as our money is not credited to the Indian Hajj Mission account." He added.
"This time we will deposit the money from the IBAN account. We request the Union Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani to negotiate with the Saudi Arabian government to adopt the new system from next year. Otherwise, we will get tents in a very remote area in Meena. This will cause a lot of trouble to us and the pilgrims." He further added.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
