Central government withdraws Hajj subsidy for Indian pilgrims travelling to Mecca

The Indian Government has withdrawn the subsidy for Hajj pilgrims which was given to thousands of Muslims for their annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Sharing his thoughts on this move by the Modi government, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Indian minority minister said that this decision was a part of “a policy to empower minorities with dignity and without appeasement".

He further revealed that these funds would instead be utilised for the educational empowerment of girls and women belonging to the minority communities in India.
This move was in response to a ruling given out by the Supreme Court in the year 2012, which had directed the central government to gradually reduce the subsidy amount before removing it completely by 2022.


The subsidy was given to the Hajj pilgrims from India in the form of cheaper air tickets (on Air India).

Although it came across as a change to something that has been going on for decades, but this move by the central government was welcomed by the Muslim community and the various community welfare bodies in the country.

Commenting on the move, Kamal Faruqui, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board said, “We want to manage our own Hajj affairs, the government should help us. Hajj is compulsory only for those who can physically and financially afford it".