Haj Subsidy Withdraw

A day after the Narendra Modi government announced withdrawal of the Haj subsidy, prominent Muslim organisations, including Jamat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, on Wednesday reiterated their demand for competitive bidding among airlines to ferry Haj pilgrims between Delhi and Jeddah.

Thousands of Muslims who go on Haj pilgrimage each year will no longer get subsidised or cheaper air tickets, the government said today. The big move would help empower Muslims with dignity, said union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, adding, "We believe in empowerment without appeasement."

He made light of the Ganga being declared a "living entity", debated BJP's promise of building a Ram Mandir and wondered why the Centre was not withdrawing the Haj subsidy given to Air India.

Abolishing subsidy for Haj pilgrims and allowing women above 45 to travel in a group of at least four without a male member are some of the key highlights of a proposed Haj policy drafted by a committee appointed by the Centre, sources said.

A day after the Narendra Modi government announced withdrawal of the Haj subsidy, prominent Muslim organisations, including Jamat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, on Wednesday reiterated their demand for competitive bidding among airlines to ferry Haj pilgrims between Delhi and Jeddah.

Thousands of Muslims who go on Haj pilgrimage each year will no longer get subsidised or cheaper air tickets, the government said today. The big move would help empower Muslims with dignity, said union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, adding, "We believe in empowerment without appeasement."

He made light of the Ganga being declared a "living entity", debated BJP's promise of building a Ram Mandir and wondered why the Centre was not withdrawing the Haj subsidy given to Air India.

Abolishing subsidy for Haj pilgrims and allowing women above 45 to travel in a group of at least four without a male member are some of the key highlights of a proposed Haj policy drafted by a committee appointed by the Centre, sources said.