Hyderabad: Congress leader Arham Adil on Thursday condemned the Hajj cost hike of ₹10,000 for 2026 pilgrims and demanded its immediate rollback.
In a statement, he said the decision by the Haj Committee of India would burden ordinary pilgrims. He added that many families save for years and cannot absorb sudden increases.
The committee has directed selected pilgrims to deposit the additional amount by May 15. However, the move follows rising global oil prices linked to tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Around 1,75,025 pilgrims from India are expected to undertake Hajj this year. Therefore, the additional ₹10,000 per person could raise the total burden to over ₹175 crore.
Hajj cost hike raises transparency concerns
Adil said the issue extended beyond the amount and questioned the timing of the decision. He pointed out that authorities did not warn pilgrims about possible revisions earlier.
He also sought a detailed explanation of the cost increase. In addition, he asked for an itemised breakdown of expenses to justify the hike.
The Congress leader urged authorities to explore alternative measures to manage rising costs. Instead, he said, officials passed the burden directly onto pilgrims.
Describing Hajj as a key religious obligation, he said it should not be treated as a commercial transaction. Moreover, he warned that such decisions could cause distress to families supporting pilgrims.
He called on the Union government to intervene and review the directive. He added that authorities must ensure global price fluctuations do not create hardship for pilgrims.
