Many Muslim leaders, activists and periodicals have been saying for long that the government need not pay the so called “Haj subsidy” but it fell on deaf ears. Now leaders like the Prince of Arcot Mohammed Abdul Ali, Syed Shahabuddin and Asaduddin Owaisi have also said so. The best thing to do in this regard is to invite biddings from various airlines in India and abroad for Haj group travels and designate the lowest bidder as the official carrier of the Haj passengers. There is every possibility of the pilgrims going to Haj at almost the same cost as now. “The subsidy issue” is mysterious and requires explanations from the authorities concerned.
As regards the Haj Goodwill Delegation sent by the government every year during the Haj, one feels that India’s representation is necessary in Saudi Arabia during the Haj – a mammoth international event – to protect the interest of our country. Our country cannot be absent when representatives of many other countries including Pakistan and Bangladesh meet so many Saudi Officials, attend Haj related rituals and even shake hands with the Saudi King. So the delegation is a must.
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
Ambur, Tamil Nadu