Govt may abolish Haj Subsidy: Krishna-NewsX

The center is having a rethink on the subsidy given to pilgrims undertaking the annual Haj to Mecca. External affairs minister S M Krishna has said that a number of Muslim organizations had demanded the abolition of the subsidy. The Supreme Court had in February, questioned the ethicality of providing such a subsidy for pilgrims from only one community. At present each state annually allocates a Haj quota, and foots bills for the pilgrimage of a set number of haajis. In August 2010, the Minority Affairs Ministry formally opposed subsidy for Haj pilgrimage, saying the scheme contrary to the teachings of Islam. The scheme is seen as many as preferential treatment of one community. In 2007 the Haj subsidy paid by the Indian government was 5.95 billion rupees, at Rs. 47,454 per passenger.

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