Haj subsidy: End of appeasement politics

When minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi announced that the Haj subsidy will be stopped, the announcement came a day after the government allowed Muslim women above the age of 45 to go on Haj without a male guardian, in a group of at least four.

The scrapping of the Haj subsidy is also in line with a 2012 Supreme Court order, where the court directed the Centre to gradually reduce the amount of subsidies given to Haj pilgrims within the next 10 years (2022), and money be used for the upliftment of the community.

Following the order, the subsidy has been gradually reduced every year since 2012. The BJP government, led by then former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee limited the Haj subsidy to the poor pilgrims. But, the Congress after it returned to power in 2004, lifted the subsidy making it available to all pilgrims.

Muslims hailed the scrapping of the Haj subsidy, saying it is un-islamic. But, it has also raised the question, if the Haj susbsidy was an excuse to keep Air India financially aflot. Air India is the only option for Haj pilgrims performing the annual pilgrimage, through various Haj committees.

The All-India Majlis-eIttehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi said, “Muslims do not need the government subsidy to go for Haj. The subsidy amount of `450 crore is actually being utilised by the airlines, Air India and other carriers.”

The Haj subsidy programme has its origins in the British era. It was first adopted by former Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi to encourage Haj pilgrims to travel by air, instead of journeying by sea. In those days, there was a difference of `10,000 to `12,000 between the prices of the ticket of a ship and a plane. Hence, a provision for the same amount of compensation for pilgrims, was made, in order to encourage them. In 1995, the option of journeying by ship was dropped and pilgrims began to take flights to the holy shrines.

Scrapping of the Haj subsidy has raised the issue of government spends on Hindu pilgrimages like the Kumbh Melas. It has also brought to light discrimination against minorities and religious matters. In Mr Owaisi’s words, “Removing Haj subsidy won’t be unpopular move at all.”