Haj Subsidy Scrapped, Move to Empower Muslims: Centre
The Haj subsidy used to cost the exchequer a total of Rs 700 crores per annum.
New Delhi, Jan 16: The central government on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of the subsidy granted to Muslims for the Haj pilgrimage. The amount would, instead, be used for the education of minorities, particularly girls, said Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
The Haj subsidy used to cost the exchequer a total of Rs 700 crores per annum. The amount, Naqvi claimed, was primarily used to subsidise the charges incurred by state carrier Air India.
The Minister said the scrapping of Haj subsidy would not lead to an exponential rise in the price incurred by Muslims for undertaking the pilgrimage.
"We believe in empowerment without appeasement," Naqvi said, adding that a total of 1.75 lakh Muslims would be going for Haj this year, despite the Centre scrapping the subsidy. The number is higher as compared to the previous year, when 1.25 lakh pilgrims went for Haj.
Although the subsidy for Haj pilgrimage drew flak from the Sangh Parivar and its associates, who accused the erstwhile governments of practising "minority appeasement", the demand has also lately been raised from within the Muslim ranks.
"It is against the Shariat to be under any kind of obligation while undertaking Haj. According to the Quran, only those Muslims who can afford the expenses should perform Haj," Jama'at Ulema-e-Hind leader and former MP Maulana Mahmood Madani had said.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi had also raised a similar demand, saying the amount of Haj subsidy is primarily used to "subsidise Air India, which is a mismanaged airline". The Hyderabad MP had instead demanded the amount of Haj subsidy to be spent on education of Muslim girls.
In the past week, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia approved India's proposal to ferry Haj pilgrims via the sea-route to Jeddah. The move was described by Naqvi as "revolutionary and pro-poor" which would significantly bring down the travelling charges.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 16, 2018 04:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).