Welcoming the end of Haj subsidy, Congress MP Ahmed Patel on Wednesday wrote to Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi asking him to ensure that the funds for the scrapped subsidy are used for the uplift of the Muslim community.
In a letter addressed to Naqvi, Patel said he welcomed the Government's decision to withdraw the subsidy given to Haj pilgrims four years ahead of the 2022 deadline set by the Supreme Court.
However, the Apex Court in its judgment had said the funds should instead be invested in schemes and plans to benefit the minority community.
Citing Government data, the Congress leader said between 2014 and 2017 the grant for Haj has been reduced from Rs 401 crore to Rs 200 crore. He went on to say that the Centre should give an account of how it plans to expend the remaining Rs 200 crore in welfare schemes for Muslims.
The Government said there was a Rs 700-crore subsidy on Haj.