Muslim MPs oppose Haj subsidy, want Haj Ministry

By Manzar Bilal,

Patna: Muslim Members of Parliament cutting across party affiliation have strongly advocated withdrawal of Haj subsidy, and to ensure better facilities for Hajis and streamline bureaucratic procedure they have demanded constitution of a separate Haj Ministry. The MPs also demanded long-term agreement with airlines for better facilities on low fares.

To discuss ways to provide better facilities to Haj pilgrims of the country, Union Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna called a meeting of Muslim MPs on March 7 in New Delhi where they raised several issues related to Haj operation.

Besides withdrawal of subsidy, the MPs also demanded the Minister to take steps to ensure better accommodation facilities for the pilgrims at Saudi Arabia and grant permanent passports to all of them instead of issuing temporary passports to those who do not have permanent.

The MPs also urged the Minister to explore the option beyond Air India for the journey as it provides old aircrafts without basic facilities.

It is a fact that despite paying good amount of money, Indian Haj pilgrims face lots of problems every year. They are not provided with better travel facilities because of that they have to spend several hours at airports. Their accommodations are also arranged at far distance of pilgrimage sites in Saudi Arabia and they have to walk several kilometres in scorching heat. Besides, their belongings are not sent with them and sometimes it took a year for that to reach them and sometimes they never receive their luggage.

The Haj subsidy has been an instrument for the government to cover up its shortcomings and problems of Haj pilgrims and also it has been an eye-sore for communal forces who always call it an appeasement of Muslims. While the fact is that private travel agencies are providing better services on the same amount that Hajis pay to Haj Committee. In such circumstances, the demand for withdrawal of subsidy seems right.

"We do not need subsidy. It is like an alm which we do not need. A long-term policy should be evolved where subsidy can be withdrawn. We can set up a corporation on the lines of one in Malaysia to handle Haj travel. The powers of the corporation should be centralized and not divided as is the case now" Rajya Sabha MP and Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind General Secretary Mahmood Madani said after the meeting.

Lok Sabha MP Syed Shahnawaz Hussain of BJP echoed Madani: “Subsidy has no meaning as the middlemen make profit out of it instead of the common man who goes to perform Haj”.

One of the main reasons for poor Haj service is that it is operated by three Ministries—External Affairs Ministry, Civil Aviation Ministry, Minority Affairs Ministry—and Haj Committee of India. The officials of all these departments do not admit their faults for the problems of the Hajis, therefore, they do not make plan to avoid that mistake in future. Every department puts blame on other and thus escapes accountability.

Keeping all these problems in mind, MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal demanded the government to create an independent Haj ministry to handle the Haj operation in better way.

“I would like to reiterate my demand for creation of an independent Haj & Wakf Ministry. I have written to Hon’ble Prime Minister and Chairperson UPA, Ms. Sonia Gandhi demanding the same. I solicit the support of this August gathering and also Hon’ble Minister for an Independent Haj & Wakf Ministry for efficient management of the one of the five pillars of the faith of the 15 crores Muslims of India” Ajmal said in his letter to S M Krishna. He could not attend the meeting.

Maulana Ajmal also pointed out that the pilgrims of Assam and other North East states face more problems due to communication gap and demanded the increase of the volunteers and officials especially doctors proportionate to the numbers of pilgrims in case of Assam and North East states.

Besides, he demanded timely providing of passports to aspirants, making sure journey through aircrafts equipped with good facilities, providing correct details of journey to pilgrims and initiative to stop rude behavior of crews during the journey.