New Delhi/Hyderabad: Even as All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi demanded calling global tender for haj carriers, Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the "government subsidy" on haj travels will be in place this year.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's statement came a day after the Modi government formed a six-member committee to look into the Haj subsidy.
According to the media reports, Naqvi said there will not be any change in the existing subsidy for Haj 2017, adding the committee formed to look into the issue will analyse if it will be more beneficial for the pilgrims if the subsidy is removed.
"Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has already formed a high-level committee to look into the Haj subsidy issue. The committee will look into whether giving subsidy has benefits or can pilgrims travel paying less if there no subsidy is offered," a government source said.
The sources said that the official announcement regarding the formation of the panel headed by senior IAS officer Afzal Amanullah is expected in the next few days.
The Supreme Court had in 2012 directed the Union government to gradually reduce and abolish Haj subsidy in the next ten years, asking the government to invest the subsidy amount of approximately Rs 650 crore a year then on the educational and social development of the community.
Meanwhile, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi while talking to a news channel said Muslims do not need government subsidy for going to Haj.
He claimed that subsidy amount of Rs 450 crore was actually being utilised by the airlines, either Air India or some other international carriers.
"If a global tender is called, on lesser prices more people will go for Haj," he said.
He also suggested if there was any bilateral agreement in this regard the government should renegotiate it.
The AIMIM president demanded that the subsidy amount of Rs 450 crore should be spent on girls' education.
"This significant amount of Rs 450 crore, of haj subsidy, should be utilised for girl education. Create more girls schools, hostels... Rs 450 cr is a huge amount," he said.
Owaisi said he had been raising this issue in Parliament for the past 11 years.
"As a Muslim, I do not get any government subsidy to go on Haj. A Haj is obligatory on Muslims who have their own financial wherewithal. We do not need any govt subsidy. Please give this money to the scholarships of girl students. This will make India and the Muslim community stronger," he added.
He said, the subsidy was started during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's regime when people used to go on ships but "now we do not require it at all."
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