Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 7: To provide aspiring Hajj pilgrims hassle free and secure atmosphere State Hajj Committee (SHC) issued notice cautioning aspiring Hajj pilgrims not to register and deposit money at any private tour and travel operators’ office, unless they follow the guidelines as per Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Central Hajj Committee.
SHC has also made it clear that no private agency would be authorized to publish advertisements to offer service to Hajj aspirants.
An official spokesman of State Hajj Committee said, “All the intending Hajj-2013 pilgrims are being informed to be careful about the credentials of the travel agencies who have issued advertisements in local press for registration of Hajj-pilgrims and not to get carried away by such advertisements unless and until the list of registered Private Tour Operators (PTOs) is issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).”
The committee has also made it clear that no agency in State is authorized to send pilgrims for the Hajj-2013, except Government. But they also made it clear that those private tour operators who follow Supreme Court of India and Central Hajj Committee guidelines will become eligible for offering service to 4520 Hajj seats of 2013.
“For two consecutive years, some Hajj aspirants have been duped by private tour and travel operators, not only swindling their money but also denying them the sacred pilgrimage. In 2011 it was Hajeej Tour and Travel Operators which fled away with the money deposited by hundreds of Hajj aspirants and Al-Balaag followed the suit in 2012 swindling Rs 2.5 crore from 131 aspirants creating mistrust among the people when it comes to private tour and travel operators,” he said.
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