Nagpur, Oct 28: Maharashtra Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education Anees Ahmad has strongly opposed the hike in air fare from Rs 12,000 to Rs 32,000 for the Haj pilgrims who fall out of the purview of subsidised travel. "This is a big jolt for the Haj pilgrims this year as the Centre has increased the air fare by Rs 20,000 without any justification," Ahmad, a former member of All India Haj Committee, told a press conference here yesterday.


Earlier in the month, Centre had fixed a subsidised air fare of Rs 12,000 per person for the Haj pilgrims. However, the income tax payees, persons performing Haj through Haj Committee for a second time and those availing exemption from the purview of reserved accommodation scheme are not entitled for subsidised air fare.

In his letters to union minister for civil aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy and minister of state for external affairs Vinod Khanna, copies of which were released to the media, Ahmad said, "BJP-led government at the Centre has cut the subsidy under pressure from RSS and VHP."

"The hike at the 11th hour has put hajees in trouble," he said.

Urging Rudy and Khanna to reconsider the decision, Ahmad pointed out that when the Hajees had submitted the forms by July 15, they were not aware of any possible hike in air fare, which was announced only this month.

A delegation of Congress legislators from the state and prominent Muslim leaders would shortly call on Rudy and Khanna to apprise them of the plight of Muslims in view of the extra financial burden, Ahmad added.
Bureau Report