Competitive bidding for Haj travel sought

NEW DELHI: A day after the and given to Air India, which had a government announced withdrawal monopoly for ferrying Hajis to Saudi of Haj subsidy, Muslim organisations, Arabia,” Salim said. “We urge the including Jamat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), government to spell out how it plans All India Muslim Personal Law Board to permit other airlines to fly Hajis (AIMPLB) and Jamiat Ulema-egiven the exorbitant prices Air India Hind, on Wednesday reiterated their charges. The government must float a demand for competitive bidding global tender for hiring an airline for Haj.”amongairlinestoferryHajpilgrims.

The Muslim bodies unanimously AIMPLB General Secretary said that the money in the name of Maulana Wali Rahmani said he could Haj subsidy — that amounted around not understand why Air India charged Rs 200 crore last year — went to Air between Rs 65,000 to over Rs one lakh India only and that Muslim pilgrims from Haj pilgrims, depending upon did not get any direct benefit from it. the embarkation point, for return

JIH Secretary General ticket to Jeddah. “In normal days, the Muhammad Salim Engineer said return ticket to Jeddah from Delhi the “abrupt” withdrawal of subsidy costs Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000. Now, if “is bound to increase the overall you book the tickets three months in cost” of performing Haj for the poor. advance, and in bulk, for close to two But the reality is that this subsidy lakh people, the cost should ideally was a payment taken from the Hajis come further down.”