The Supreme Court must be congratulated for making a rational judgment on the issue of subsidy for Haj travel (May 9). By itself, the subsidy has been a bone of contention for very long, and perhaps a vote-catching gimmick. Religion is an affair and choice of the individual and people who want to go on a pilgrimage should bear their own expenses. The apex court should also go into the monies spent by certain governments on marriage/thali schemes, mass-marriages and the like.
J.V.V. Murthy,Coimbatore
Among the five pillars of Islam, Haj and Zakat are obligatory only for rich Muslims. While there is no justification for a government subsidy for a pilgrimage, it should contemplate implementing the suggestions made by the Rajinder Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Misra Commission.
S. Sultan Mohiddin,Kadapa
India is a secular state and the government cannot give a subsidy for pilgrimages to only one community and religion. This money can instead be used for minority welfare, by providing them with proper education and health care.
Shashank Rao Palety,Vijayawada
