Srinagar 25 January 2023: The prominent sociopolitical activist Syed Karar Hashmi from central Kashmir Ganderbal, studying in Qom Seminary, appealed for an inquiry into the videos that surfaced on social media regarding mismanagement of tour and travel operators. He cautions about the highest level of fraud and scams by Ziyarat Tour and travel operators and the need to beware of rogue travel agents, amid concern that conmen are exploiting the religious faithful.
He warned travel agents to give details of their travel itinerary to esteemed Zayreens in writing before paying for their Ziyarat Trip.
He observed that esteemed pilgrims told him here at Qom that they had paid for five-star hotels but ended up with poor quality accommodation.The partners in crime with travel agents are a few local Seminarians whose responsibility was to remain engaged with study , but they are working here arranging hotels, transport, ticketing and food and in return get huge money from travel agents.
He said that we have on ground observed huge corruption, inhumane and degrading treatment from the rogue Ziyarat tour operators who think that rules, regulation, procedure and the law do not apply to them and provide substandard living and travelling facilities to the pilgrims. Sometimes pilgrims were left without accommodation, visas or flight tickets. In extreme cases, agents simply disappeared with their cash.
He reiterated that he has decided to write to every higher authority in India, especially J&K , and will urge them to publicise and monitor the issue in their constituencies, after Ziyareen pilgrims warned of the scam in New Delhi one day before. Unfortunately for some pilgrims, what should be the occasion of a lifetime is turning into a nightmare. It’s not acceptable and we need to put an end to it.
Prominent Socio-political Activist from Kashmir India requested GOI , Lt. governor Shri Manoj Sinha and Hajj member Er Aijaz Hussain to regulate and frame laws governing Ziyarat tours and travel packages and all related stuff, as these travel agents think that they are above the law because they exploit people who are either unwilling to complain, don’t know how to complain because majority of pilgrims are either illetrate or old.
