This Ramadan witnessed around a fifty per cent decline in the number of pilgrims undertaking Umrah from Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with travel operators citing rising poverty as the primary factor. The sharp declines exposes the hollow claims of Modi-led Indian regime about so-called development and progress in the territory after the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.
Industry representatives said, pilgrim numbers have decreased by over 40 percent compared to previous years.
General Secretary of the All Jammu Kashmir Hajj Tour Operators Association, Umar Nazir Tibetbaqal told the media in Srinagar that Umrah package costs have increased manifold this Ramadan.
“It is one of the reasons why there is a dip in Umrah pilgrimage. During this month,” Tibetbaqal said.
