11 Facts About Haj subsidy

Haj subsidy was a subsidy based on religion that was given to Hajj pilgrims by the Government of India in form of discounted air fare so that a pilgrim can fly to Mecca for Hajj.

The Haj subsidy initially applied to Indian Muslim pilgrims traveling for religious reasons to Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan by road and by sea.

The average airfare Haj subsidy was about 73,526 per Muslim pilgrim in 2008; while the average non-airfare financial assistance was 2,697 per pilgrim.

The total Haj subsidy provided by the Government of India was US$1,815 per Muslim pilgrim in 2008.

On 16 January 2018 Union minister for minority affairs said that the Hajj subsidy has been completely taken off and this amount will be used for educational purposes of the children belonging to minority.

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In 1959, Indian government repealed and replaced the 1932 Act, enacting Haj subsidy Committee Act, to establish a Committee in the Port of Bombay for assisting Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan and for matters connected therewith.

Haj subsidy was modified in 1973, when the Indian government abolished sea travel as a means of making the Hajj for two reasons - rising oil prices after formation of OPEC and a ship accident that killed 39 pilgrims in June 1973 during the government managed Haj trip.

The Court ruled that this Haj subsidy is not only unconstitutional but inconsistent with the teachings of Quran.

Haj subsidy suggests charter fares should be set at two-thirds of regular IATA fares, but points out that the Haj has higher costs than other charters because two empty flights are required to return the aircraft to India and to position the aircraft in Arabia for the pilgrims' return journey.

Maulana Mahmood A Madani, a member of the Rajya Sabha and general secretary of the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, declared that the Hajj subsidy is a technical violation of Islamic Sharia, since the Koran declares that Hajj should be performed by Muslims using their own resources.

Praveen Togadia of Vishwa Hindu Parishad has argued that the government sponsored Haj subsidy is provided from taxes of Hindus to pay for Muslim religious pilgrimages, and demanded that it be abolished or similar grants be extended to Hindus.