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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Iran attacks oil tanker near Dubai; Trump warns of strikes on energy sites if Hormuz remains shut
Tel Aviv/Washington: Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off Dubai on Monday after US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would target Iran’s energy infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
According to a Reuters report, the Kuwait-flagged tanker Al-Salmi is owned by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and was capable of carrying around 2 million barrels of crude. . It was struck in what authorities later described as a drone attack. The company said the incident occurred early Tuesday, causing a fire and hull damage. No injuries were reported and the fire was brought under control, Dubai authorities said .
Oil prices rose briefly following the attack and added to volatility in global energy markets. In the United States, retail gasoline prices crossed $4 per gallon for the first time in more than three years, according to data from GasBuddy, as crude prices moved above $101 per barrel.
Israel said it carried out missile strikes on military infrastructure in Tehran and on sites linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah in Beirut. Explosions were reported in parts of Tehran, with Iran’s Tasnim news agency saying power outages occurred in the eastern Pirouzi district following the blasts.
The Israel Defense Forces said four soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon. In recent days, three peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon were also killed in separate incidents in the same area.
Iran’s military spokesperson said Tehran’s latest wave of missile and drone strikes targeted US military positions at five bases in the region and sites in Israel. Thousands of troops from the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division have begun arriving in the Middle East, according to US officials, expanding Washington’s military options even as diplomatic efforts continue.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Reuters Trump wants an agreement with Iranian leaders before a revised April 6 deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, adding that talks were progressing, while public statements from Tehran differed from private communications.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said proposals received through intermediaries were “unrealistic” and maintained that Iran was focused on defending itself.
In a social media post, Trump said that if a deal is not reached soon and the strait is not reopened, the US would strike Iran’s electric generating plants, oil wells and Kharg Island. However, a report in The Wall Street Journal said Trump had told aides he may be willing to end the military campaign even if the strait remains largely closed and address reopening it later. The White House referred to earlier remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the strait would be opened “one way or another.”
The administration has also requested an additional $200 billion in funding for the conflict, a proposal that faces opposition in the US Congress.
