Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday welcomed the decision to reduce airfare for Hajj pilgrimage.
“I welcome the decision of the central government and thank @narendramodi ji for substantially reducing the airfare for Hajj pilgrims from India from this year,” Mehbooba tweeted.
Mehbooba said this will help many more Muslims “experience the holy pilgrimage to Kaaba”.
The reduction, announced by the Union Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday.
The reduction will be applicable to passages on Air India, Saudi Airlines and Flynas, an air carrier based in Saudi Arabia, to Jeddah and Medina from 21 airports in India.
The government had in January abolished subsidies given to those on the pilgrimage in view of a 2012 Supreme Court order.
