Call to repeal decision to scrap Haj subsidy

‘Withdrawing subsidy at one go will affect many poor pilgrims’

Senior Congress leaders in the State have flayed the Central government decision to scrap Haj subsidy at one go.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president M.M. Hassan said in a statement here on Tuesday that the government should repeal the decision.

Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said that the Supreme Court had given time till 2022 to stop the subsidy and the hasty decision had a hidden agenda.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the decision would destroy secularism and cause division among the people.

Former KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran said in his Facebook post that the decision was proof of how the Centre could mess up an issue. Chairman of the Coordination Committee of Muslim Organisations, Thiruvananthapuram, Kaikara Babu said the decision had hurt the religious sentiments of scores of poor who were longing go for pilgrimage.

Politically motivated

Staff Reporter writes from Malappuram: Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty, MP, has said that the decision is politically motivated.

He said on Tuesday the scrapping of the subsidy at a single blow would jeopardize the pilgrimage dreams of poor Indian Muslims. Mr. Kunhalikutty said that the IUML would raise the matter in Parliament, and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) would adopt the next move on it afte.

He said Haj subsidy was withdrawn while retaining subsidies for several other pilgrimages.

“The government’s argument that the money spent for Haj subsidy would be channelised for the welfare of minority students is a farce,” he said.

IUML State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed has urged the Centre to put an end to the “looting” of airline companies during Haj season before stopping the subsidy.

BJP welcomes move

BJP leader V. Muraleedharan welcomed the decision. He said giving subsidy to a particular section was against the spirit of secularism.