Tumultuous journey for Muzaffarnagar Hajis

Around 1,900 pilgrims from the Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh in India have begun landing in Madinah. Residents of the district, who recently suffered communal riots, took Saudia flights from New Delhi, which is the nearest airport to their hometown.
According to pilgrims, reaching New Delhi was difficult even though it is situated just 130 km away from where they live.
Pilgrims who missed their flights were flown out on later flights.
Many of these pilgrims are still in a state of shock following the recent incidents of mob violence.
They also commended the support offered by Hindu community members, who helped them pass through the neighborhood safely when they saw the pilgrims in religious attire.
Arshad Ghayur, a pilgrim from Bejari in Muzaffarnagar, told Arab News: “Our journey to New Delhi was a big risk. We had no idea if we would make it.”
Ghayur criticized the administration of Uttar Pradesh for failing to provide security escorting for pilgrims and said that while many Hajis were dropped off by relatives and friends to the airport, others who were dependent on public transport did not make it.
“The violence in Muzzafarnagar is similar to the Gujarat carnage of 2002,” he said.
Another pilgrim, Mohammed Asif, said: “Though it is a tradition in India to have gatherings for family and friends before Haj pilgrims leave for Saudi Arabia, there were no such get-togethers this year because of the violence.”
Musheer Ahmed, another pilgrim, said: “We still can’t believe that our area was rocked by riots. This is a district that remained unaffected even during the partition of the country in 1947 or the Babri Mosque demolition in 1992.”
Mohammed Ghayub said: “It is unfortunate that the Samajwadi Party, which was supported by the Muslims, has betrayed us since coming to power.”
Tanveer Ahmed, CEO of UP State Haj Committee in Lucknow, told Arab News that a total of 1902 pilgrims from the Muzaffarnagar district would be performing Haj this year.
“Some 47 pilgrims missed their flight to Madinah as a result of the riots. Thankfully, these pilgrims were able to make it on later flights. The state government is willing to provide security en route to embarkation points in New Delhi or elsewhere if needs be,” he said.
Moulana Syed Asad Hussaini, a member of the Haj committee and a prominent figure in violence-hit Muzaffarnagar, also told Arab News it would have been difficult to reach New Delhi if violence had ensued. “The situation has improved now and there is no cause for concern,” he said.