The central government plans to “revisit” the Haj subsidy policy as several Muslim organisations have asked for its discontinuation, external affairs minister S. M. Krishna said on Monday.
“Several Muslim organisations approached the government, urging it to stop the subsidy being extended to the community,” the minister said.
In 2009, the Centre had increased the air fare for such pilgrims as would undertook the journey through the Haj Committee, from Rs 12,000 to Rs 16,000 per person. The Haj subsidy met by the government in 2007 and 2008 was of the order of Rs 5.95 billion and Rs 7 billion.
respectively.
The minister, however, did not clarify whether the government plans to
introduce the reforms step by step or all at one go.