Owaisi demands rollback of ₹10,000 Haj airfare hike, calls it 'exploitation'
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday, 30 April 2026, sharply criticised the Haj Committee of India for issuing a fresh circular that demands an additional ₹10,000 per pilgrim as differential airfare for Haj 2026, citing the ongoing crisis in West Asia. Owaisi called the directive exploitative and demanded its immediate withdrawal along with full refunds to all affected pilgrims.
What the Circular Says
The circular, dated 28 April 2026, mandates that all Haj 2026 pilgrims pay an additional USD 100 (approximately ₹10,000) by 15 May 2026, irrespective of their embarkation point. The directive was issued after airlines sought a base fare revision of more than USD 400 per pilgrim, driven by a sharp rise in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) costs linked to the prevailing geopolitical situation in West Asia. The Ministry of Minority Affairs approved the one-time airfare revision, according to the circular's own text.
The Haj Committee stated the decision was taken after examining the facts and consulting relevant stakeholders, and described the circumstances as
