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Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, Mansoor Ali Khan, wrote separate letters to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Thursday seeking immediate assistance and welfare measures for Indian Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia amid flight disruptions following recent aerial attacks.
In his letter to Jaishankar, Khan highlighted the hardships faced by pilgrims due to flight disruptions, airport closures and limited airline services. The stranded pilgrims include women, children and the elderly, many of whom have medical conditions requiring urgent care, Khan wrote. He also raised concerns over the difficulties faced by private tour operators and the resulting communication breakdown with pilgrims. Several Private Tour Operators have exhausted their resources and are in deep distress themselves, leading to a total breakdown in communication with the pilgrims. Consequently, these pilgrims face imminent risks of visa overstays and subsequent legal complications, he said. Seeking immediate intervention, Khan urged Jaishankar to direct the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Jeddah to coordinate with stranded pilgrims and private tour operators. He called for steps to Establish immediate contact with the stranded pilgrims and Private Tour Operators to arrange for secure accommodation, food, medical aid, and legal assistance, and to Facilitate early repatriation on humanitarian grounds and Take appropriate regulatory action against erring Umrah tour operators. In a separate letter to Rijiju, Khan sought coordination between the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure on-ground assistance and accountability of private operators. He urged the minister to Direct the concerned division to actively coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the CGI Jeddah to provide immediate on-ground assistance to the pilgrims, and to Take strict cognisance of complaints against defaulting private operators and ensure their legal obligations for return travel are strictly enforced. Khan also requested Rijiju to Issue an immediate advisory to State Haj Committees to assist affected families, and consider providing emergency financial assistance from welfare funds for the stranded pilgrims. Earlier on Thursday, an additional control room was established in Makkah by India to support its citizens, specifically Umrah travellers, affected by flight disruptions connecting the subcontinent and Saudi Arabia, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah stated. The transport chaos stems from heightened regional tensions across the Gulf following lethal drone and missile strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in the Kingdom by Yemen-based Houthi rebels.(ANI)
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