Page 42 - English Tehelka Issue 3&4

column
The Way
ForWard
Abdul WAsey
While Haj subsidy,
which was 685
crore in 2011, came
down to 200
crore in 2017, govt
assistance to other
religious events saw
an upward trend,
with some of them
jumping by over
100 per cent
42-43 Abdul-Column.indd 2-3
Was ending Haj subsidy Haj subsidy, which was 685
crore in 2011, came down
a pious move or a stunt? to 200 crore in 2017, the
government’s assistance
to various other religious
events in the country has
seen an upward trend, with a
Scrapping pilgrimage aid on the day when VHP leader Praveen Togadia alleged few of them witnessing more
that the government intended to kill him, the first open sign of rift among than 100 per cent jump. In
right-wingers, may well be an attempt to divert the attention of media and masses
2015, the Akhilesh Yadav-led
Uttar Pradesh government
A subsidy within 10 years. The Modi-led lowed by new chief minister
doubled the Mansarovar
day after Praveen Togadia central government to phase out the Haj yatra subsidy to 50,000, fol-
went “missing” and was
later found in an uncon-
Yogi Adityanath who further
central government took it forward
scious state at a park in
and cancelled the subsidy. Minority
doubled it in 2017 to 1 lakh.
Ahmedabad, the VHP’s
confirmed that from this year there will
Singh government diverted
international president on January 16 Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi In 2013, the Manmohan
alleged that attempts were being made be no subsidy for Haj. At the time of the 800 crore — which was
to suppress his voice. Togadia also met order from the apex court in 2012, the meant for irrigation and
Patidar agitation head Hardik Patel and centre had spent more than 600 crores urban development in Uttar
Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia on a year on the pilgrimage, most of which Pradesh — towards organis-
the same day. Media houses suddenly went to Air India. According to reports, ing the Kumbh in Allahabad.
got busy in chalking out plans to cover the government had spent 250 crores The list of subsidy pro-
this development in a big way as it was on airfare subsidies for Haj pilgrims grammes offered to people
for the first time that a top leader of a last year. of different religions to visit
prominent right-wing Hindu nationalist While some consider the move as 680 riyals from 4,240, we got 3,560 fairs minister has assured. “The money their Holy places is quite long. Almost
organisation was openly hinting at his an end to the politics of appeasement riyals – which leaves approximately saved by scrapping the subsidy will be every government and each state
rift with the present government, and in favour of empowering the Muslim 64,500 that was being charged used for education and to empower does it to woo its prospective vot-
even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak community, most followers of Islam without any explanation. Also, 2,100 minorities,” Naqvi was quoted as saying. ers. Scrapping Haj subsidy is a move
Sangh (RSS). are of the view that subsidy for Haj was riyals were also charged which were This, if implemented, would be in line in the right direction. Thousands of
Had the incident been reported against the spirit of their faith. Accord- returned to the pilgrim upon their with the slogan of “sabka saath, sabka crores of rupees meant for subsidising
in detail, it would have dented the ing to Islamic books, only Muslims who arrival in Makkah for food and other vikas” that was given by Prime Minister religious trips may be utilised in much
popularity of the ruling NDA among its are physically and financially sound are expenses. Narendra Modi during his campaign better ways. Investing in education,
hardcore voters. But things changed expected to perform Haj at least once in Similarly, airfare in the open market, for the 2014 general elections. infrastructure and poverty uplift-
dramatically within hours. By after- their life time. That also, with their hon- if booked in advance, is most likely to Interestingly, it is not just Haj pil- ment programmes will go a long way
noon of the same day, another report est and hard-earned money. One can’t be much lower than what was being grimage that was subsidised. A recent in empowering common Indians and
“Government ends Haj subsidy from go to pilgrimage with borrowed money charged by the government. Generally, report highlights that many state strengthening the country.
this year” started flashing on the screens or any other form of assistance. it is in the range of 23,000-25,000 for governments fund pilgrimages. At pre- One can only hope that welfare of
Even otherwise, a closer analysis
of mobile phones and television sets. of Haj subsidy tells a different tale. bulk bookings. Thus, roughly speaking, sent, up to 5,000 crore is being spent the people was in the mind of authori-
Editors, anchors and experts suddenly
ties when they suddenly announced
the government has been charging pil-
on Mahakumbh at Ujjain alone. States
started opining on the issue. An atmos- Let’s take the year 2016 as an example grims approximately between 85,000- such as Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kar- an end to the Haj subsidy on January
phere of jubilation could be seen among to understand the whole thing. The 95,000 extra for years. In the words of nataka and Madhya Pradesh provide 16 this year and the move was not
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Wel-
intended to deflect the attention of the
government that year charged 2,21,050
money to residents going to the Ma-
coming the move, the All-India Muslim for ‘green category’ pilgrims. It included (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, the nasarovar yatra to cover a part of the media and masses from the internal
45,000 airfare, 7,567 airport charges
Personal Law Board said: “The subsidy and Rs 1,000 Haj committee fee. For subsidy amount of 450 crore was expenses. All this, however, contradicts tussle among Hindu right-wing forces
was not given to those going on Haj but
and the ruling BJP government. By the
Article 27 of the Constitution that states
being utilised by the airlines, either Air
it was for Air India that is running in accommodation at Makkah and Madina, India or some other international carri- that taxes from individuals should way, a senior member of Margdarshak
losses. It was an eyewash. Muslims were
Mandal, the highest decision-making
not go towards “payment of expenses
ers. “If a global tender is called on lesser
each pilgrim was charged 5,000 Saudi
cheated in the name of the subsidy.” riyals. Then there was another head prices, more people will go for Haj,” he for the promotion or maintenance of body of VHP, recently hinted that To-
The government, it was alleged, used to called ‘others’, under which 4,240 riyals recently told a news channel. any particular religion or religion’s gadia would be removed from the top
post for making remarks against the
were charged without any detail of
almost force Haj pilgrims to travel by
As suggested by many, the State’s
denomination”.
the state-run airline. break-up. Apparently, 180 riyals were money should be put to better use, such Will the axe fall on the subsidy Central and Rajasthan governments..
All this started in May 2012 when the
Supreme Court had directed the then for local transport and 500 riyals for as educating minorities and weaker offered to other religious events too? letters@tehelka.com
As of now, it does not seem so. While
Muallim’s (guide) fee. If we deduct
sections of society as the minorities af-
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12/02/18 3:45 PM