Karnataka Hajj pilgrims remain stranded in Mecca after return flights arranged with IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India Express failed to begin as scheduled, Karnataka Minority Welfare, Hajj and Waqf Minister U.T. Khader said on Saturday. He warned that the Hajj Committee would approach the Supreme Court if flight operations do not start within two days.
Khader said between 600 and 800 Kannada-speaking pilgrims are currently in Mecca. The pilgrims travelled on the three airlines and had also booked tickets for their return journey, he said. According to the minister, the airlines that transported the pilgrims have a responsibility to bring them back to Karnataka.
The minister said the airlines had initially indicated that return flights would begin on October 24. The start date was subsequently moved to October 27, leaving the pilgrims waiting in Mecca, he said. Khader added that flights operated by airlines from other countries were continuing, while the return service for the Karnataka pilgrims had not begun because of problems involving the three Indian aviation companies.
“If flight operations do not begin within two days, we will approach the court through the Hajj Committee,” Khader said at a press conference. The proposed legal action would seek the return of the stranded pilgrims and address the disruption to their travel arrangements.
The minister also said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had written to the Union civil aviation minister about the matter. Khader said the state government had not received a response to that communication. The lack of a response has added to the uncertainty around when the return flights will operate, according to his statement.
Khader said the aviation companies should also compensate the affected pilgrims for the losses caused by the delay. He indicated that this demand would be included in the proposed petition before the Supreme Court if the airlines did not begin flights within the stated period.
The episode has placed responsibility for the next step on the airlines involved in the pilgrims’ outbound travel, while the Karnataka Hajj Committee is preparing to consider legal action. The immediate milestone is the commencement of return flights within two days, failing which the committee is expected to move the Supreme Court, according to the minister.
