
A woman bids goodbye to her relatives as they depart to Saudi Arabia’s Mecca for Haj pilgrimage from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on April 21.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Congress on Sunday (May 3, 2026) demanded the immediate withdrawal of the April 28 circular issued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, which requires Haj pilgrims to make an additional payment by May 15th, alleging that the circular was issued without justification or prior consultation and was a result of mismanagement by the government.
Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain, in a post on “X”, also sought a full refund of all amounts collected under the circular and structural reforms of the Ministry’s management of the Haj pilgrimage. He called for mandatory competitive tendering and a Haj Price Stability Framework before the 2027 season.
Published – May 03, 2026 05:11 pm IST


