They also demanded the government to do away with the system of sending official delegation during Haj.Most of the Muslim MPs, including Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi (Cong), Mahmood Madani (RLD) and Syed Shahnawaaz Hussain (BJP) who are also member of the Central Haj Committee said that the community did not need such a subsidy. They also raised questions about Haj quotas.
These MPs were speaking at a conference called by the minister for external affairs SM Krishna on Monday. MPs suggested the minister to make long-term arrangement with airlines to provide better facilities and cheaper fares for the annual pilgrimage.
They narrated the problem faced by the Hajis during and the government to provide better accommodation facilities for the pilgrims at Saudi Arabia and doing away with the practice of granting travellers with temporary passports for the pilgrimage and providing them with permanent passports instead.
Talking to TIA, BJP’s Lok Sabha member Syed Shahnawaz Hussain who is also a member of Haj committee said that the subsidy has no meaning as the middlemen make profit out of it instead of the common man who goes to perform Haj. Hussain also raised the issue of providing the pilgrims with permanent passports.
Though most of the members favour withdrawal of Haj subsidy, a Congress MP from Kerala, M I Shahnwaz opposed the idea saying it would create unnecessary controversy. However Asaduddin Owaisi of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen suggested that the money meant for subsidy should be used for the scholarship of the poor Muslim students.
Several MPs also suggested formation of Haj Corporation on Malaysian model. They said that the powers of the corporation should be centralised.
The External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on February 24 told the Rajya Sabha that he would convene a meeting of Muslim members of Parliament from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to incorporate suggestions for Haj pilgrimage this year. He said the government gave a Haj subsidy of 367 crore Rupees in 2006-07 which rose to Rs 867 crore in 2008-09. As per provisional figures, Haj subsidy in 2009-10 amounted to Rs 611 crore.
He said, it was the constant endeavour of the Government to improve and reform the management of the arrangements for Haj pilgrimage in consultation with all concerned.
In Monday meeting Krishana mostly heard the voices from community representatives and assured them their suggestions would be considered. Minister of state for external affair E Ahmad was also present in the meet. 25 Muslims MPs participated in the conference.