Srinagar, June 23 (Reporter) National Conference on Sunday said J&K haj pilgrims were received by a bureaucrat and not the state head which was a departure from past practice. The first batch of Hajis arrived here from Saudi Arabia on Saturday after performing the pilgrimage and were received by Deputy Commissioner Budgam along with SSP Budgam. "As a precedent, the head of state, specifically the Chief Minister, along with his Ministers, has always welcomed the first batch of Hajis at the Srinagar Airport and greeted them upon their return”, National Conference posted on X. “However, in a significant departure from this practice, it was low-ranking bureaucrats who received the first group of Hajj pilgrims at Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport Srinagar yesterday”, the NC said and added, “these pilgrims had just returned from performing the Haj-e-Baitullah in Saudi Arabia”. “This change not only represents a shift in the protocol in a Muslim-majority state but also deeply hurts the sentiments of many”, NC said...////...