Govt to formulate stand on Hajj subsidy: Minister

Wednesday, May 23, 2012: Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty opined that the Kerala Government has decided to convene a meeting of Muslim religious organisations in the state to elicit their views on the recent Supreme Court direction to the Centre to phase out Hajj subsidy.
The meeting is being beld to formulate the Government’s stand on Hajj subsidy to be informed to the Apex Court, Kunhalkutty, who also holds Wakf affairs portfolio, told.
He said the Central Hajj Committee had also not yet formulated its stand on the issue.
Kunhalikutty said Kerala wanted its Hajj quota to be enhanced, considering the huge increase in applicants for travelling to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage.
“We have already taken up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs. Though we have not received any assurance so far, we hope that the Centre would consider our plea positively,” he added.
On May 8, the Supreme Court had directed the government to phase out Hajj subsidy within a period of 10 years, saying this amount can be more profitably used for social and educational development of the Muslim community.