By Abdul Bari Masoud
NEW DELHI: Muslim groups and leaders slammed the BJP-led central government on Tuesday for withdrawing the so-called Haj subsidy on air fare saying it has taken the decision without establishing Haj Corporation or announcing of global tender as recommended by the Haj Review Committee. They said now Haj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir or from Assam would have to cough up more than 1.15 lakhs rupees for travelling Saudi Arabia as each Haj pilgrim had already paid about Rs 65,000 last year as a fare.
Ahead of the Budget session, the minister of minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said the government has withdrawn Haj “subsidy” from this Haj season using the alibi that the Haj review panel had recommended abolishing ‘‘subsidy” in accordance with the Supreme Court judgment.
“Muslims didn’t benefit from it. Development with dignity is what we believe in. The subsidy will be used for educating girls,” Naqvi said and adding that “we believe in empowerment without appeasement”.
However, Haj Review committee member Kamal Farooqui said the government did not take the whole report into consideration before announcing the withdrawal of subsidy.
“Yes, we have recommended doing away of so-called Haj subsidy but with rider that to establish the Haj Corporation of India on the lines of Tabung Haji, Malaysia and floating the global tender for hiring private international airlines,” Farooqui told Muslim Mirror who is also associated with All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
When asked why the government has selectively implemented the committee’s recommendation? He quipped it is a hallmark of this government to play politics with any issue which wants to appease its “hardcore constituency” by withdrawing the subsidy.
We have made this recommendation in the good faith because the subsidy issue is being used for political purpose and to defame Muslims which had not benefited them except to fill the coffers of the ailing national carrier, he added
The decision would bring financial hardships to those pilgrims going from embarkation points such as Srinagar, Guwahati or Mangalore etc.
The Haj fare from Srinagar, and Guwahati embarkation points were fixed around Rs1.14 lakh last year and it may also go up this year too.
In its judgment in May 2012, the apex court bench headed by Justice Aftab Alam had directed that within ten years from 2012 onwards i.e. by 2022, the Haj subsidy should be abolished gradually and whatever money was being saved by the Government used for the welfare of minority community. The court had also directed that a review has to be done after every five years. On the basis of the judgment, the first review was done in 2012. The Haj Review panel, headed by former secretary Afzal Amanullah has carried the second review in 2017 making a host of recommendations including abolishing Haj ‘subsidy’, restoring shipping line for Haj pilgrims and empowering the Haj Committee of India.
However, the government the sudden decision on subsidy can be described as a cherry-picking act that may render the Haj Committee as a useless body. No Indian pilgrim would prefer to go to Haj through the Haj Committee by paying whopping fare.
Social Democratic party of India also criticized the Modi government saying it has been playing politics with issues related the minority community.
Talking to Muslim Mirror, SDPI vice-president Sharfuddin Ahmad said no Muslim is in favour of the so-called Haj subsidy but before abolishing it, the government should have make alternative arrangement for the transportation of Haj pilgrims.
“Muslims have never sought any subsidy for Haj travel, while they have been demanding money for their socio-economic betterment such as for education and healthcare.”
He asked for ending the monopoly of Air India on transportation of the Haj pilgrims.
Without amending the new Haj act, which authorizes the Air India to transport Hajis to Saudi Arabia, the monopoly of national carrier cannot be broken; he underlined and alleged that Air India has been making money in the name of Haj subsidy to make up its huge losses while it has become a handy issue for the communal forces to target the minority community. He also criticized the previous Congress governments on the issue.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress party also reacted on the issue. Former Union minister and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government has abolished the Haj subsidy almost four years before the date prescribed by the Supreme Court but the party has no issue on this.
Talking to reporters here, he expressed the hope that the government would also implement the second part of the apex court order — to use the subsidy amount for the development and uplift of the minorities.
”The withdrawal of the Haj subsidy is as per the directions of a Supreme Court bench in 2012 headed by Justice Aftab Alam, directing abolition of Haj subsidy within 10 years. The Government has withdrawn the Haj subsidy four years before the date prescribed by the Supreme Court. We have no issue with it”.
Now that the first part of the Supreme Court judgment has been implemented by the government, I am sure that the second part of the judgment will also be implemented, Azad said.
He also underscored that Hajjis never benefitted out of this subsidy, but the airlines.
“Let it also be very clear that the Hajis have never benefitted out of this subsidy, it is the Airlines which have benefitted and the normal fare from any part of the country to Jeddah is far less what the Airlines are charging”.
“The normal charge between India from any given point to Jeddah is Rs. 30,000-40,000, the Airlines are charging from Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 75,000. So, the impression given that the Hajis are being benefited and the Government is doing something extraordinary for Hajis, it is not like that”.
He asked the government to use the subsidy money on the welfare of minority community and particularly for the education of the minority children.