Now, however, he doesn't know what exactly the appeal was for. "If they are going to ask people to give up subsidies and then channel the savings towards pilgrimage tourism to garner votes, they are creating another reservation system that will ruin our country," said Joseph.
When prime minister Narendra Modi had asked the well heeled to give up their LPG subsidy, Bandra resident Anil Jospeh was one of them. "I had really liked the appeal," said Joseph, who is now among those whose decision helped the government save Rs4,166 crore.
Now, however, he doesn't know what exactly the appeal was for. "If they are going to ask people to give up subsidies and then channel the savings towards pilgrimage tourism to garner votes, they are creating another reservation system that will ruin our country," said Joseph.
Joseph is among the many who feel that the government should stay away from funding or subsidising pilgrimage. "There are some tour operators who even state that there will be a priest as a spiritual guide. They pay for the priests' expenses. This way they are even corrupting the priests. They are opening a Pandora's box. Funding or subsidising in India or anywhere in the world should not be done. Tomorrow, every person in any community who is economically not well off will ask for subsidy," added Joseph.
Pilgrimage, said members of different communities, should be between an individual and God. "Earlier, they said Parsis would be given subsidy to go to Iran. It was our motherland, but did we not leave that place to come here because of persecution? What is there? What we will go and see? All of a sudden now they have stopped talking about it," said Viraf Kapadia, a Parsi.
"I can pray here too. Why should I go to any other place? Pilgrimage should ideally be done by a person on his/her own because it is between them and God," said Noorjehan Saifa Niaz.
Solomon Sopher, a Jew, said, "I do not think it is necessary and correct to ask for funding or subsidy for pilgrimage because it is more important to get minority status. Also, it will not be correct from the Indian point of view to subsidise someone wanting to go to Israel.
Minority affairs minister Eknath Khadse remained unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Eknath Khadse")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}