Muslims welcome Haj subsidy abolition, want global tenders

Bhopal: Muslims across the country feel there is no problem in withdrawing subsidy from Haj pilgrimage, but they demanded transparency and privatisation of the pilgrimage programme.
About 1.5 lakh Muslims from the country visit Saudi Arabia every year to perform Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam. The Government claims that the subsidy expenses are borne by the Central Government by partially paying the airfare.
Rajya Sabha MP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (Madni faction) leader, Mahmood Madni talking to The Pioneer said, “We never demand subsidy. The Haj necessitates only if you can afford it physically and financially. If the Government wants to abolish the subsidy, I welcome that.”
Madni further said, “The subsidy has been inconsequential and it actually went in bailing out Air-India, while exposing Muslims to charges of appeasement. So, Muslim leaders want global tenders for airlines so that the lowest bidder gets the job.” The remark comes as the Government has reportedly moved a proposal to phase out the multi-crore rupees subsidy in the airfare for Muslim pilgrims who visit Saudi Arabia.
13/04/10 Zafar Alam Khan/Mynews.in

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Categories: Foreign Apr 2010, NACIL Apr 2010