Haj subsidy: Owaisi calls for removal; govt constitues six-member committee

Is the Centre considering removing the Haj subsidy? ANI reported that the Minority Affairs ministry has constituted a 6-member committee to look into abolition of Haj subsidy.  Earlier in the day, AIMIM’s Hyderabad MP and popular Muslim leader suggested that the subsidy should be removed since Saudi Arabia had increased India’s Haj quote. He wrote on Twitter: “Saudi Arabia has increased Haj Quota to 1.70 from 1.30 we welcome it @naqvimukhtar. Please remove Haj Subsidy 690 cr allot to girls’ education.”

Saudi Arabia has increased Haj Quota to 1.70 from 1.30 we welcome it @naqvimukhtar Please remove Haj Subsidy 690 cr allot to Girls Eductn

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) January 11, 2017

Earlier, arrangements for Haj pilgrims were discussed at a meeting in December with Saudi ambassador to India Dr Saud Mohammed Alsati, he said. "During the last Haj too the Saudi Arabian authorities cooperated a lot. We have received several important suggestions on Haj pilgrimage and we are moving forward keeping in mind these suggestions," the minister said.

A review meeting where issues of accommodation and transport facilities for Haj pilgrims, among other things, were discussed, he said. Discussions were also held with Civil Aviation Ministry to ensure availability of aircraft with modern facilities for pilgrims, he said.

Applications for this year's Haj would be accepted from January 2 to January 24. About 99,903 people went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for Haj from 21 embarkation points across India through the Haj Committee of India last year. Besides, 36,000 pilgrims went for Haj through private tour operators.