Google the words Haj Subsidy and the top three results are from the rabid right wing Muslim-bashers. All the first 30 results are related to India and that means it is a big issue for Indian and Indians.
Since, the Haj pilgrimage has just concluded, it is the right time to ask this question, are we really getting a Haj subsidy?
First, let us analyze what exactly this so-called Haj subsidy entails. An Indian Muslim, who chooses to go to Haj through government run Haj committees, gets a subsidy of around Rs. 20,000 on their Air India ticket of Rs. 32,000. That is it ! The minimum cost of a Haj package through the Haj committees is around Rs. 92,000, of which Rs. 20,000 is paid by the Indian government to Air India as a subsidy on the Hajis ticket. The total Haj airline ticket subsidy was around Rs. 150 crore for the year 2001 and has been enmarked to Rs. 225 crores for the year 2005. It is interesting to note that the normal ticket to Saudi Arabia costs around Rs. 25,000 but Air India charges Rs. 34,000 from the Hajis. So, effectively the government is giving a subsidy of Rs. 12,000 only !
The Sangh Parivar zealots make is sound like that the Indian government sponspors an Annual-Go-To-Haj trip for anyone who is interested. Why this is such a big issue for them? I don’t think the amount involved (Rs. 225 crores) is the itching factor. They are more piqued at the fact that it allows Muslims to go to Mecca and Medina, their holy cities which are outside India, out there is some land called Arabia. The usual argument of these fanatics is that India and India alone should be the pitrabhuumi (fatherland) and punyabhuumi (holyland) of all Indians and since the holy places of Muslims and Christians are elsewhere, they can never be patriotic enough. This argument would have been plain ridiculous had it not been so malevolent. So, what they are trying to say is that a Hindu born and brought up in USA can not be patriotic enough to USA, if he chooses to visit the Somnath mandir in India as a pilgrim. A Swede, who converts to Hinduism, can not be loyal to Sweden if he scouts Mathura and Varanasi in search of spiritual salvation. The patriotism of all Sikhs who visit Nankana sahab in Pakistan is somehow suspect and all Hindus who undergo the arduous Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage can not be termed Indians anymore because that site is under Chinese dominion. Welcome to Ram Rajya 2.0, as espoused by a few hate mongers. But then, these gentlemen hardly talk or understand a five lettered word, ‘sense’. We would let them go for the time being.
Coming back to the Haj subsidy, Haj is obligatory only on those who are physically and financially capable of performing the journey. So, all the expenses should be incurred by the Hajis himself and the government should not pay any part of that. Fair enough. But is the government actually providing any financial support to the Hajis? I don’t think so. The government is only subsidising their air tickets because the airlines they are travelling with belongs to the government. In other words it is a discount on an overpriced product. There are many companies that provide discounts to their regular users. What we fail to appreciate is that these Hajis are providing atleast 84 crores as revenue to Air India per year, year after year for the pathetic service they receive in return. Is it merely a rumour that the worst Air India carriers are employed by Air India for the Haj travel? Last year, on its way back, one of the Air India plane broke down. It has to be grounded in Sharjah for a full night. The Hajis were told that they would have to spend the entire night in the plane. Customer service anyone? After protests from the passengers, Air India finally relented and issued boarding passes to the passengers. Which traveller in his right mind would prefer travelling with Air India with so many airlines providing world-class service at comptetitive rates, nowadays?
More than 1,20,000 Indians went for Haj in the year 2001. That is a big big number and the that too within a specific time schedule. Out of these, around 50,000 chose to go with private tour operators. Why? Because there are many private tour operators that offer Haj packages for as low as Rs. 68,000, without any government subsidy (yes, the government gives subsidy only on the Air India ticket, not to the Hajis per se). What does that tells us? Let me make a guess, these tour operators are more efficient?
So, the goverment of India, in order to cover for their awful management of Air India, to hold on to a constant (and unquestioning) source of revenue (year, after year) want Indian Muslims to believe that it is doing a lot of favour by doling out some subsidy on an overpriced air ticket. That too for its own vote bank politics. Come on !
The consecutive governments in India have only used symbolism in the name of minority policies. Instead of focusing on the real issues, as to why Indian Muslims are at the bottom of the social rung, why the literacy rate of Muslims is the lowest, what are the reasons that Muslims fail to enrol their kids for school, what can be done to utilise the tremendous skills of business and entrepreneurship, all we are given is a pathetic subsidy on an overpriced airline ticket and that too, mainly for its own good. Symbolism sells, in India, it sells big. The fact that it also gives an issue to perennial Muslim-haters like Togadia, Singhal and Giriraj Kishore, is of no concern to it. Afterall, when these people bark, and occasionally bite, which way the terrified Muslim would turn to? Is it just a co-incidence or a well though strategy, that the BJP led government did not abolish the Haj subisidy in its 6 years of power because that would deprive its core Muslim-bashing constituency one of the favourite issues? Even Muslim leaders such as Syed Shahabuddin (not that Siwan hoodlum, but the ex-diplomat) has been demanding for 20 years that the Indian government should do away with the so-called Haj subsidy. He also claims that no Muslim leader ever asked for it.
The bottomline is this, Indian Muslims should reject the subsidized Air India ticket, if not for anything else then for common sense only. Once the Haj market opens and this forced monopoly of Air India goes, I would not be surprised if other airlines start offering discounts to the Hajis. Afterall, which company wouldn’t want to tap in an yearly market in excess of Rs. 350 crores, and that too, just for the airfare.
Mohib
Is this Haj Subsidy or the subsidy given by saudi government to Airindia ?
If it is really haj subsidy than how much AirIndia is loosing from this subsidy ? than why Air India is not concerned about it lost ?
As every one knows that BJP is totally against the muslim, so when BJP was in government, than why BJP had continued this policy of giving Haj subsidy to Muslims, so it mean that there is some thing fishy !
May be saudi government is given more subsidy to Airindia to operate haj flights, only the part of it given to poor muslims in the name of haj subsidy ?
May be muslims are getting a peanut from the so called HAJ SUBSIDY given by Saudi Government to Airindia ?
So it is the right of the Indian Muslims to know the truth behind so called “HAJ SUBSIDY”
Yup….Abu you may be right. It seems that all the peanuts served in Air India come from Saudi Arabia….very interesting insight. I have the feeling that so is the Fish…Salmon?
THE LAST LINE of your essay is superb. I want the Haj Subsidy cancelled effective immediately. No Mushairas – No Iftar Party – No Haj Subsidy.
These lollipops are not needed.
Instead : Establishing Primary Schools in Muslim-concentred districts as identified by the Sachar Report, infrastructure + appointment of teachers therein. Muslims form 17% of India’s population (reduced figure shown as 14% in the census). In view of this ground reality, ideally 10% muslims must be represented while admission to professional courses / scholarships / house site pattas / bank loan disbursement / jobs (central and state) right from Class IV (Peon) right up to the IAS.
The time to please Muslims with symbolic gestures (green saree in a muslim city or doffing a skull cap) has gone. A reply could be : “Well.. we dont need your votes. We can win / form a Govt. without you and your votes.. so indian muslims may go to hell”. We must push the political parties to come to that level and say the truth. We need social CHURNING (not social engineernig, cuz that sounds sinister). Nations evolve with time. Truth comes out. If we dont get reservations., or even high school… fine. They must come and say so openly. As far as BJP is concerned, let alone doing anything positive., its strategy is daily salvos of hate speech + pogroms.. .hence muslims prefer the lesser evil Congress (out of no choice).
If worst come to worst., Indian muslims must keep away from politics. Let the 80% Hindus vote and decide the course of india’s destiny. What must be., must be.
Sudie you are right even peanuts cannot be served free unless you buy ticket and travel in plane !
How come Indian Government is giving Haj Subsidy to Indian Muslims, even when BJP was in power ?
Why expoliting muslims in the name of haj subsidy ? if government is doing favour to muslims, than Why not subsidy exclusive for muslims in other commidities too ?
Because, Airindia is getting more and giving peanuts in the name of haj susidy, is that not right ? (don’t you smell something fishy)
Well..Abu
Simple thing…why this fancy for Saudi Arabia. It could be Israel funding the Haj subsidy also.
Air India is a public entity. Why dont you write a letter and ask this question. Or just go through their annual report and find out. And if you are fascinated with Saudi Arabia so much then why don’t you just emigrate. Many of my friends fascinated with the US did so.
Its far more easier to give subsidy than genuine efforts to building schools and colleges to give education. The Congress all this while has deliberately kept Muslims distinct by appeasing the orthdox leadership. This way it was a religious votebank to be used against the BJP that spoke of nationalist pride. All you need to do is give charity to the younger brother during the family occassion. But never was the brother encouraged to get better education or supported to come out of the economic morass. The Muslims who looked beyond that became great Presidents or public personalities. These public personalities were branded as “not muslim” enough. You were made to speak out for Saddam Hussain but not for the poor farmer who does not get electricity or the poor girl who is exploited by her own family. How smelly does that sound to you?
Congress collaborates up with sentenced criminals to protect its power. Its supporting Shibu Soren as the CM of Jharkhand. This when Mahatma Gandhi himself said that the means are important as its ends. Both BJP and Congress are equally bad. In such circumstances, you have to stand up for your self. Screw the govt. make your own life or compete, become a leader and make a difference. Its easy to wallow in self misery.
Sudie,
If Israel is funding for Haj Subsidy, it will be digest to some extend, but BJP was offered Haj Subsidy during their period, that is not digesting ?
I am well aware that Airindia is a public entity and Government of India was elected by indian people, but you are justifying haj subsidy on behalf of who ?
You are talking in BJP tone by using words like congress apeasing muslims or vote bank politics, these words are outdated, need modification ? for muslims congress and BJP are two different side of same coin but come to the fact of Haj Subsidy ?
Look at the sachar committee report where muslims stand in India? muslims are most backward community in education, economy, job and are cornered in every field, muslims areas are purposely neglected without proper basic utlities, they have almost nil representation in army and other areas, and when it come to Haj, they are given subsidy for what ?
Would you like to know the facts about why only subsidy on Haj specially ? or you want to close this topic without knowing the facts ?
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Abu,
I think we should stop forming committees in India. What i one man committee headed by a retired supreme court Judge can do? Have any of the committees formed in India, after our Independence has done a proper job? has any of these committee’s report has been publicly discussed and properly implemented? These committees are just eye wash for the public.
Common we are not in a developed economy where every one pays proper taxes. We are a third world developing country, where Hindus,Muslims or Christians exists in same conditions. Lets count how many Hindus or Muslims live in slums with out proper sanitation, health care and education. They will out number the total population of Muslims in India. Why some one should be given preference on Religious or caste basis?
We should understand that the real help should go to the poor, ones who deserves it, let it be Muslim, Hindu or Christian. Lets create a spirit of competitiveness, which will create quality.
First you are an Indian then comes the religion. Your love to Saudi is just based on Religious feeling. Please live in Saudi, you can feel the real situation and you will be clearly treated only as an INDIAN MUSLIM and not as their own.
Even a secular Muslim country like Iraq or Lebanon calls you as ALIBABA.
So please don’t voice for Saudi, who makes a back door align with US and Israel at same time breeds fundamentalists to kill innocent people.
Its pity to see that Religion is playing a bigger role than Patriotism.
Haj subsidy is a big sham. It does not help the Muslims as much as it gives the Hindutvavadis a stick to beat the Muslims with.
Muslim appeasement is actually a big myth. It only panders to the orthodoxy and has done nothing to improve the educational level of the Muslims, or even economic growth.
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I have written a post on Hajj subsidy..I’ld like you all to read and share thoughts on it..
http://nimis540.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/why-does-government-push-hajj-subsidy-down-the-throats-of-indian-muslims/
Thanks..good day
Are State and Central Government are allocating budget for Haj Subsidy ! not at all !
Than how the funds are generating to spend on subsidy ?
Air India and Indian Airlines are receiving discounts from gulf airport to operate haj flights, part of the discounts are returning to hajis that is called Haj subsidy !
It is the time to change the so-called name haj-subsidy !
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The Author is deliberately trying to make the Haj subsidy look small. Tha layout of the article suggests that the subsidy is peanuts and hence should be increased even though the actual words say it should be rejected. DO NOTE that it should be rejected ONLY as it is “miniscule”, otherwise the author who is a enlightened representative of the muslims agrees to it. I know this article is old, but the current wikipedia entry pegs the haj subsidy expense of 2008 as a whopping 700 crores. Also, the author’s calculation of the end benefit to muslims is flawed. Its convenient to miscalculate when it supports your theory. As per wiki entry “Since 1994 the round trip cost to Jeddah has been fixed at Rs. 12,000 per pilgrim, and the rest of the bill is footed by the government. In 2007, this difference came to Rs. 47,454 per passenger”.Isn’t that a BIG subsidy?
And what do the majority get? Does anyone remember how the same subsidy getters protested when the government decided to give some land to provide temporary shelter to Amarnath Yatris?
This can happen only in India.
It is very unfortunate and sad that there was a huge outcry over Amarnath land..They deserve the facilities and it was unfair that this was even a matter of discussion..And moreover,that move would have helped to bring J&K more closer to India ..**sigh** We have lot of politicians who are waiting for a mole to make a hill out of it,and we have a greater mass who are dumb and jump into streets before looking whatz behind and whatz after it… In fact,the central government alone was responsible for all the incidents and killings that happened then..
Just my random thoughts..
1. Governament Airlines Overpriced?
In my experience whatever the destination, they are cheaper and ofcourse as a result provide bad customer service.
2. Why always justify things by bringing Sanghparivar and their standards. The concerns of a common Hindu need to addressed, If common man is convinced, sangh Parivar will disappear.
3. As common Hindu , I do believe, Haj subsidy is a wasteful and inefficient use of Taxes coming from common pool. How is that addressed. Hindu temples are taxed but minority religious institutions are left.
4. This same money could have been used for improving Education among poor. I don’t care whether the amount is billions of dollars or just a few thousands. It is matter of principles and secularism.
5. During months of June to september many American Indians travel by AirIndia from USA to India. All airlines value this business and prices do comedown but by how much? Not a lot.
The issue is not How much. that is secondary. Why at all? is the primary question of common Hindu. Common Hindu also believes, if this belief that Haj subsidy is a myth is not simply a belief among the muslim elite,who can afford it, They very well could have managed to change things.
The Amarnath issue was a mistimed one and played into the hands of the politicians who exploited the situation to get votes. Unfortunately it did not work.
Personally I feel if an ecologiocal point of view is taken, the trip should be controlled and infrastructure facilities provided should have utilized local manpower to generate employment. Anything managed by a trust in India is very dubious. Instead a more open system that would have helped the local economy would have helped. An average person will always jump onto the streets – the stakes are too low – and everyone wants to vent. The leadership in such situations should have the wisdom to either do something that helps the people or like they did in this case – exploited the situation on communal grounds.