Srinagar, 19 July(KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar Wednesday expressed dismay over the lack of suitable arrangements by the Hajj Committee for the pilgrims of Jammu and Kashmir during the Hajj and urged the government to investigate the matter immediately. 

“Action should be taken against the erring officials. Concerned officials, who are found guilty of evading their responsibility should be held accountable. The details provided by the pilgrims about the non-availability of basic facilities during Hajj have never been seen in the past. It is a pity that the pilgrims were treated like sheep and goats. According to reports, 88 people were kept in a single room while 20 people were given only one washroom,” he said.

“The extent of the worst arrangements was that there was no water available for the pilgrims to wash their dishes and no transport facilities were available to bring and transport the pilgrims and the pilgrims had to walk many kilometres in the scorching sun of 50 degree Celsius,” Sagar said adding that rulers make tall claims in the media, but when it comes to taking practical steps, all these claims prove to be mirages.

Meanwhile, the Party General Secretary addressed  a meeting of Block Harwan of Khanyar Constituency. 

He urged the party office-bearers and workers to stay in close contact with the people at the ground level and take the lead in highlighting their sufferings in the current tough times.(KNS).