Sir — This refers to the editorial, “The pilgrim’s progress” (January 18). The Union Government’s decision to abolish the Haj subsidy is in adherence to the Supreme Court’s directive in 2012 to gradually reduce and abolish Haj subsidy in 10 years. The court had cited the Quran to say that the Haj pilgrimage was mandatory only for those who could afford the expenses for travelling, food and accommodation.
The original argument for the subsidy was that the Muslims, who constitute about 15 per cent of India’s population, and are among the poorest citizens, needed assistance because many could not afford the journey otherwise. But the subsidy has been given, regardless of the economic standing of the pilgrims.
Many leading Muslims too have slammed the subsidy. They argue that the subsidy simply served as a bailout package for the loss-running national carrier Air India and was a state-sponsored tactic to earn political support from the Muslims.
In keeping with the apex court’s direction that the money saved by phasing out the subsidy should be used for the upliftment of the minority community, it is good that the BJP Government has decided to spend the money, valued at around Rs 650 crore per year, on the education of Muslim girls. Hope the Government sticks to its word.