Those chosen to go for Hajj this time from the Malabar region are facing huge discrimination and this is the massive hike in air ticket prices. Those who have to catch a flight from Kozhikode Airport will have to pay a much higher rate than those who board from other airports.

The contract to transport Hajj passengers from Kozhikode has been taken by Air India. The Hajj fare of Air India, which Tata Group has procured from the public sector, is Rs 1,65,000. Fares for other flights in the state range from 1.21 lakhs to 1.22 lakhs. The total number of Hajj applicants in the state is about twenty-four thousand. Fourteen thousand of them have expressed their interest to board the flight from Kozhikode. Ever since the Karipur airport came into existence, all Hajj pilgrims from Malabar used to depart from there. Pilgrims had to rely on other airports only during the years when flights from there were stopped for some time due to some technical reasons.

The current situation is that those who choose Karipur airport have to pay more than 75,000 rupees extra compared to the ticket price of Hajj travellers from Kannur or Kochi. Although the actual rates have not yet been officially released, it is indicated that there will be a huge increase in the rates compared to those in Kochi and Kannur. It is clear that Air India's action is discriminatory at first glance itself. The central government, which says they are helpless at all stages of complaints from passengers against airline ticket theft in the name of price hikes, is yet to say whether it will come to the rescue of Hajj pilgrims. The general policy is to leave it up to the airlines.

If Air India is not willing to reduce the high fares from Karipur, a good number of pilgrims will be forced to seek other airports. Karipur airport, which is progressing on the development path, will be facing a setback in the future because of this. The airline policy is reminiscent of the adage of adding insult to injury. It is common for ticket prices to triple or quadruple during peak periods. Even if the airfares are increased tenfold during the festive days, the centre does not intervene to control them.

Those who are wealthy can travel in such situations as well, but Hajj pilgrims can never be included in this category. It is the greatest ambition of every born Muslim to perform Hajj at least once. A large part of the Hajj pilgrims are not of high economic status. Most of them are ordinary people. It is the duty of the central government to stop the airlines from mercilessly robbing them. Muslim organizations and people's representatives from the state have already submitted a petition to the Center in this regard. They are hoping for a favourable decision. They should secure their tickets and start preparing for the journey once the decision is out.