SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the Jammu and Kashmir Government would use its own budget to bring stranded Kashmiri Umrah pilgrims back from Saudi Arabia if the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) could not provide financial assistance or arrange their return.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar said the government was in contact with the MEA to resolve the issue, which has affected pilgrims from several states following flight cancellations and a sharp increase in airfares.
He said the difficulty was not simply the cancellation of flights but the steep rise in ticket prices, leaving passengers who had booked travel through budget airlines struggling to afford alternative arrangements.
Omar said the government would continue discussions with the MEA to facilitate the pilgrims’ return and provide assistance with booking tickets if required.
“If our people are stuck, if the Ministry of External Affairs does not have the budget to bring them back or to help them in booking their tickets, then we will use our budget to bring them back,” he said.
The assurance comes amid concerns over 34 Kashmiri pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia after their scheduled return journeys were disrupted due to ongoing situation in middle east.
