Hyderabad, May 8: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced on Friday that the state government will absorb the additional financial burden on Hajj pilgrims due to rising airfare costs this year.
While flagging off buses for Hajj pilgrims, the Chief Minister noted that the ongoing crisis in West Asia has led to increased fuel prices, which in turn has raised air travel fares.
Pilgrims for Hajj 2026 will face an extra charge of ₹10,000 primarily due to the rising costs of aviation turbine fuel. The Chief Minister emphasized that the state government is taking on this additional cost to alleviate the burden on Hajj pilgrims.
He reiterated the government’s respect for all religions, stating that Hindus and Muslims are brothers.
Revanth Reddy also warned against attempts to disenfranchise voters under the guise of Special Intensive Review (SIR). He urged the public to unite to prevent such tactics in Telangana.
The Chief Minister recalled the tragic bus accident in Saudi Arabia last year that claimed the lives of 44 Umrah pilgrims. He mentioned that the state government is providing ₹5 lakh in compensation to each bereaved family to support them during this difficult time.
He highlighted the minority welfare schemes initiated by his government, stating that minorities are receiving their fair share of employment opportunities and welfare programs. Scholarships have also been provided for minorities seeking education abroad.
Discussing initiatives to reduce air pollution, the Chief Minister pointed out that many impoverished members of the minority community in Hyderabad earn their livelihoods by driving auto-rickshaws. The government has decided to convert all auto-rickshaws operating within the Outer Ring Road to electric ones free of charge, which will significantly save costs for drivers.
The Chief Minister noted that the demand for blue-collar jobs exceeds that for white-collar positions, with countries like Germany and Japan offering more abundant employment opportunities compared to the United States.
The government is already transforming industrial training institutes into advanced training centers to provide skill training to youth, helping them compete in the global job market. The Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to making Telangana a leading state in development and a model for the nation.
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