Hyderabad: External affairs minister S M Krishna's statement on the likelihood of abolition of the Haj subsidy on Monday found support among a large section of the Muslim community. Intellectuals and members from religious organizations said that the subsidy should be withdrawn and reasoned that as per the Islamic sharia, Haj should be performed by Muslims using their own resources.
So far, the Haj subsidy is given in the form of airfare. Pilgrims applying through the Haj Committee of India are offered a concessionary air fare for the round trip cost to Saudi Arabia. As against the actual fare of Rs 32,000, a pilgrim pays Rs 16,000 while the rest is taken care of by the government.
In fact, religious leaders insist that no one from the community had asked for a Haj subsidy. It was introduced in the early 1970s after the oil crises that caused losses to Moghul Line-a Shipping Corporation of India subsidiary. The corporation used to operate a four-ship Haj service. "The ship service was done away with and the government subsequently announced the subsidy in the air fare," said Hafiz Peer Shabbir Ahmed, former chairman, State Haj Committee. He emphasized that the subsidy was not for the pilgrims but for the sustenance of Air India.
04/04/12 Times of India
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