India, May 1 -- A Rs.10,000 increase in airfare for Haj pilgrims has triggered a political row, with the government attributing the hike to rising aviation fuel costs linked to the ongoing Iran conflict.

The Haj Committee, under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, issued a circular stating that the one-time revision was necessary due to a sharp surge in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices. According to the notification, each pilgrim will have to pay an additional $100 (around Rs.10,000) irrespective of their embarkation point, with the amount to be deposited by May 15.

The hike comes as global ATF prices have reportedly surged significantly since the conflict began in late February, with fuel costs accounting for nearly 30-40% of airline o...