Muslims pained as Dabolim Airport removed as embarkation point for Haj Pilgrimage

The Muslim community in the port town are upset after Dabolim Airport was recently removed as embarkation point for the Haj Pilgrimage. Social worker Riyaz Qadri said the Dabolim airport catered to Muslims not only from Goa but also from neighbourhood states as well.

Due to Covid, many Muslims could not undertake the Haj Pilgrimage in 2020. But they are confident that they will get a chance to undertake the pilgrimage next year. However, what has upset them is the cancellation of Dabolim airport as the embarkation point even though it was used in this capacity for several years. Muslim leaders say that around 70% people going for the Haj Pilgrimage are senior citizens and will be inconvenienced as they will have to go all the way to Mumbai, which is now the embarkation point for Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli.