Against the backdrop of the Supreme Court ruling to phase out Haj subsidy in 10 years, the Kerala Muslim Jama-ath Council on Wednesday said the government should permit the pilgrims to undertake the pilgrimage by ship.
A fax in this regard has been sent to the Central government, External Affairs Ministry and Central Haj committee, Jama-ath council state general secretary A Pookunju told reporters here.
While the pilgrims get Rs12,000 as subsidy, the flight charges had been increased from Rs20,000 to Rs60,000, thus exploiting them, Pookunju alleged.
He said for the four hour journey to Saudi Arabia, the Haj pilgrims are forced to pay Rs 58000-60,000, while the 14-hour long journey to New York costs only Rs 42,000.
The journey by ship would hardly cost Rs 5000 and study classes can be conducted for pilgrims during the journey, he said.