Kannadiga pilgrims stranded in Mecca: Haj Committee to move SC, says Khader

Minister for Health, Minority Welfare, Haj and Waqf U.T. Khader said the State government will move the Supreme Court if airline companies fail to respond to people from Karnataka stranded in Makkah.

Speaking to reporters in Chikkamagaluru on Saturday, the Minister said the responsibility for bringing back the pilgrims from Makkah lies with three airline companies — IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India Express. He said around 600 to 800 pilgrims from Karnataka had been stranded in Makkah. “They had return tickets booked with these companies. Those who took them there must take the responsibility to bring them back,” he said.

The Minister said flights from other countries had been operating as usual, but because of the problems with these three companies, services had not yet begun. They said they would resume services on Saturday, October 24, and again they said they would resume by Tuesday, October 27. “If services do not resume within two days, we will approach the court through the Haj Committee,” he said.

Mr. Khader said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had already written to the Union Minister for Civil Aviation on the issue. However, there had been no response. “We will file a petition urging the court to direct the airlines to operate and also bear the losses incurred by the pilgrims,” he said.

Further, he added that the Haj Committee had contacted local associations and organisations in Makkah and had arranged accommodation and food for the pilgrims.

The Minister held a review meeting in Chikkamagaluru.