The Haj Committee of Uttar Pradesh has decided to change its loyalties from Air India to Saudi Airlines for sending pilgrims to Jeddah, allegedly due to the step-motherly treatment meted out to the Hajis. With nearly 30,000 pilgrims undertaking Haj pilgrimage every year from the state, the decision is likely to cause a revenue loss of around Rs 50 crore to Air India.

"We have decided not to take the services of Air India for our Haj pilgrims," said Mohammad Jawed Khan, deputy secretary of the UP Haj Committee. In a letter to the Central Haj Committee and the Government of India, the government has made it clear that "due to misbehaviour and misconduct of the Air India staff with Haj pilgrims, the services of Air India will not be availed at any cost", Jawed Khan told The Indian Express.

Haj Committee secretary Laeeq Ahmad said: "The Air India staff always give step-motherly treatment to Haj pilgrims, though we pay a huge amount to it, that too six months in advance."

Laeeq added: "They always use their small and condemned aircraft for the pilgrims. Last year, several pilgrims had lodged complaints regarding the crew members' misconduct."

Air India's Executive Director Jitendra Bhargava, however, rubbished the allegations. "It is nothing but politics by UP leaders. We are operating from 16 states and none of them have any problems," he said.

Bhargava added that it is for the Government of India to decide which airline should carry the Haj pilgrims.

"So far, we have received no such communication from the government."

Reacting to his comment, Principal Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Minorities Welfare department, M A A Khan said: "We are not going to debate on what the Air India is saying. Our only concern is the comfort of pilgrims. We have received their complaints and are arranging the best facilities for the next batch."

Dr Khan said they have conveyed the grievances expressed by the Haj pilgrims to the Union government at a meeting.