MALAPPURAM: The decision to withdraw subsidy for Haj pilgrimage from this year on by the union government has drawn mixed response in the state.
While the move was largely welcomed, the state government, state Haj panel and majority of Muslim organisations have registered protest against the haste of union government in the issue as the subsidy was anyhow going to be stopped completely by 2023 as per an earlier Supreme Court order.
“The union government acted in a haste that may harm the secular nature of our country. While the current paltry subsidy amount of '10,000 was going to be stopped within five years, withdrawing this in haste may create a feeling of targeting minorities, especially Muslims. People cannot be blamed if they take this as an anti-secular move by the central government,” said minister in charge of Haj in the state Dr. K.T. Jaleel.
Kerala State Haj Committee is neither ready to welcome the move nor protest against it.“There is no place for protests in raising this issue as Haj is mandatory only for those who have sufficient means to undertake the pilgrimage,” said the Haj panel chairman Thodiyur Muhammed Kunhi Musliyar.
“This should be considered as an assault against the secularism. Haj subsidy is a benefit of secularism like all other subsidies for various pilgrimages. Though it was not a right, we have to protest against the way by which the union government has acted to stop it by superseding the Supreme Court order to do away with the subsidy completely in phases by 2023,” he said.
Former Haj panel chairman and general secretary of Samastha Kerala Jamiyatul Ulema, Alikutty Musliyar said that the union government’s move can be welcomed.
“There are no reservations against stopping the subsidy. If the government has good intention to help the pilgrims they should invite a global tender from Airline companies to take the pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. If the government brings parity in the air fare for the pilgrimage the rate for the pilgrimage would come down in a big way and will benefit the pilgrims more than the current susidy amount,” Musliyar said.
Government should not make the pilgrim bear the brunt by avoiding subsidy and simultaneously charging high fare for the flight, he added.
Meanwhile the IUML alleged that the move was politically motivated. “Everyone knows the motive behind this move which is to hurt the minority community. IUML would raise this issue in parliament and would discuss with opposition parties. The union government must be ready to invite global tender for Haj flight services to reduce the enormous air fare before stopping the subsidy in haste,” IUML national general secretary P.K Kunhalikutty MP said.
