Haj subsidy for 1.25 lakh pilgrims in India

[53fd]

New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) Government today approved Haj subsidy for 1.25 lakh pilgrims and fixed fare of Rs 16,000 per person undertaking the journey.

The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, gave its nod to a proposal for covering 1.25 lakh Haj pilgrims under this year's government subsidy scheme which will be facilitated by the Haj Committee. "Fare to be charged from each of the pilgrims for Haj 2011 is Rs 16,000," an official release said.

It said Haj flights would be operated from 21 embarkation points during during the pilgrimage duration. Haj chartered flights will be operated by Saudi Arabian Airlines and the national air services from 13 and eight embarkation points respectively. The pilgrims would be carried from India to Jeddah between September 29 and October 31. The return flights from Jeddah to India will operate between November 10 and December 10.

The Cabinet also granted ex-post facto approval for increasing the number of pilgrims to 1,26,191 for last year's Haj pilgrimage. PTI

 

[Tshering22]

This is the dirty politics in India...

 

[EastWest]

This is the dirty politics in India...

True..y is there no such subsidies for Hindus who visit Amarnath or other far away holy places...??

 

[Abingdonboy]

True..y is there no such subsidies for Hindus who visit Amarnath or other far away holy places...??

Not quite Amarnath is in J&K at most 3,400km (Kerala-J&K). Mecca is 4,000+ km (Delhi-Mecca) not to mention it could be more dependant on where in India you depart. Not to mention getting to Mecca is obviously much harder and more expensive than getting to somewhere in India.

 

[IndoCarib]

Some Muslims I know are not in favor of this subsidy. They feel that one spend one's own money to go to Mecca.

 

[jdme]

But Bharat is a Hindu country as I have been told countless times. Why is GOI doing this?

 

[53fd]

But Bharat is a Hindu country as I have been told countless times. Why is GOI doing this?

We appreciate India for all its good actions, & condemn its bad ones. I have posted this thread to praise the efforts of the GOI. Unfortunately, a few members feel it is favoritism towards Indian Muslims, & it isn't deserved.

 

[Mech]

The Haj subsidy has been there for quite sometime now....Not really a news item.

 

[great]

True..y is there no such subsidies for Hindus who visit Amarnath or other far away holy places...??

Come on guys, its a small amount of money to show to our minorities that their country cares for them. Its not a huge amount. Imagine the goodwill that comes through this in our largest minority. There's no bigger event in a Muslim's life than going to mecca at least once. I appreciate GOI for helping out our fellow Muslims. And I am satisfied with the return on investment.

 

[harpoon]

Come on guys, its a small amount of money to show to our minorities that their country cares for them. Its not a huge amount. Imagine the goodwill that comes through this in our largest minority. There's no bigger event in a Muslim's life than going to mecca at least once. I appreciate GOI for helping out our fellow Muslims. And I am satisfied with the return on investment.

Pls also remember that the biggest terrorism operations in India are also conducted by Muslims. India may be spending more on keeping tab on Muslim terrorist organizations than what is spent on Haj Subsidy. So there goes the 'good will' down the drain. Going to Haj may be the biggest event in a Muslim's life but its not the job of the Indian Govt to send them there. This is minority appeasement, clear & simple.As a Hindu I want to visit all the important Hindu pilgrimage centers in India with a visit to Ankor Wat thrown in between. There is no greater joy for Christians than to visit Bethlehem & Jerusalem, so on so forth. Why not Govt funds these?

The money spent on Haj Subsidy could have been better spent on providing services to Muslim Community, but that will not bring any big votes from the community.

 

[bubble123]

i dont know if its right. A muslim can only perform Hajj if he is wealthy enough to bear expenses and leave plenty behind for his dependents.

I don't think that it is religiously right to go to Hajj on subsidy. If you can't afford to go on Hajj fine.

 

[53fd]

I personally think it's a great gesture by the GOI. Well done.

 

[cyphercide]

Subsidies and special flights are arranged on a regular basis for Muslims preparing for Haj.Check out the Haj Committe of India for more;

Haj Committee of India

 

[lkozhi]

i dont know if its right. A muslim can only perform Hajj if he is wealthy enough to bear expenses and leave plenty behind for his dependents.

I don't think that it is religiously right to go to Hajj on subsidy. If you can't afford to go on Hajj fine.

The only rule is you should not go if u have a debt. GOI doesn't give this as loan. it is free. It is a reduction in rate. GOI has been doing it for quite a long time. In olden days they used to arrange ships.

 

[Tshering22]

Come on guys, its a small amount of money to show to our minorities that their country cares for them. Its not a huge amount. Imagine the goodwill that comes through this in our largest minority. There's no bigger event in a Muslim's life than going to mecca at least once. I appreciate GOI for helping out our fellow Muslims. And I am satisfied with the return on investment.

Small amount!? Do you even know in rupees how much it comes to? And what about minorities in Dharmic faiths? Ain't I a minority by definition of the "Constitution" (I'd never consider but by definition that is)? Here's an old law; when you write a constitution, it is either for everybody or nobody.

This government is shyte biased against others and favors only selectively. It is the most communally divisive government in the history of this country. And don't tell me the "bringing them to equality" nonsense. I am myself not a mainstream Hindu.

Not quite Amarnath is in J&K at most 3,400km (Kerala-J&K). Mecca is 4,000+ km (Delhi-Mecca) not to mention it could be more dependant on where in India you depart. Not to mention getting to Mecca is obviously much harder and more expensive than getting to somewhere in India.

Yeah? Subsidies are usually given to those who cannot afford. Now surely they're not telling me that all Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists etc are rich in India are they? This is dirty politics by our government. Accept it.

True..y is there no such subsidies for Hindus who visit Amarnath or other far away holy places...??

Or any other Dharmic sects like us Buddhists or Sikhs.