Haj subsidy
by Shabana Muhammad
It has been widely reported that the present ruling coalition in India, United
Progressive Alliance heaved a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court bailed it
out on the issue of Haj subsidy. Last year, too, the Centre had to move the
apex court against an order of the Allahabad high court banning subsidies for
all pilgrimages irrespective of religion. Though the Supreme Court had lifted
the ban for 2006, it did express misgivings about subsidies given to
pilgrimages by a secular state.
The fears expressed by the apex court deserve earnest consideration by all
those who aspire to make India a truly democratic and secular republic. Should
a purely religious activity like a pilgrimage get state patronage? Is financial
assistance of a secular state in the performance of religious obligations
permissible going by the tenets of that religion?
Although Indian secularism recognises the institution of religion, it does not
permit the state to sponsor or promote any religious activity. This finds
expression in the Constitution, particularly in Part III that deals with the
fundamental rights. Right to freedom of religion, provided in Articles 25, 26,
27 and 28, guarantee religious freedom to all citizens of India. All religions
are equal before the state and no religion can be given preference over the
other. Imparting of religious education in state-funded educational
institutions and levying special taxes to support any particular religion are
prohibited The insertion of the word secular' in the Preamble in 1976 was
merely a reiteration of the provisions in the Constitution. In view of this,
the policy of giving subsidies to religious activities like pilgrimage to Mecca
amounts to an infringe-ment of the principle of secularism as well as of the
Constitution. The Congress and its allies in the UPA, who shout in
support of secularism from the rooftops, should realise that by extending
subsidies to pilgrimages they are not only tarnishing the secular fabric of the
Indian state but, so far as Haj subsidy is concerned, are also falling prey to
the bogey of Muslim appeasement.
The government must put an end to the policy of funding religion. Let us
consider the Haj, for which the Centre has to shell out a whopping Rs 2.8
billion this year. Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam. A devout Muslim has
to recite with complete conviction the kalima; he must say prayers five times a
day; he has to observe rozas (fasting) for a maximum 30 days during the month
of Ramzan; he is expected to pay zakat, which is the Islamic concept of tithing
and alms; and finally, he should embark on a pilgrimage (Haj) to Mecca.
The first three obligations are binding on almost all devout believers whereas
the other two are conditional on those who can financially afford to perform
them. Haj falls in the latter category. It is the last obligation to be
performed by those Muslims who are financially, physically and mentally sound
to undertake the journey to Mecca. A Muslim should not go on pilgrimage to
Mecca by way of borrowing money from someone or by seeking financial assistance
from the state. Only a Muslim who has fulfilled all his familial
responsibilities and has carried out all the financial duties should undertake
the pilgrimage of Haj with his hard-earned money.
A trip to Saudi Arabia with state subsidy cannot be called Haj in the strict
Islamic sense. The Haj committee that is supposed to manage and facilitate the
travel plans of pilgrims should have complete autonomy and be constituted by
the community rather than government. A completely autonomous Haj committee can
directly negotiate with various airlines for getting the best deals for
pilgrims. This would be in accordance with past traditions where a pilgrim
going with a caravan would haggle with the leader to get the most economical
passage. Such an arrangement would also absolve the government of the charge of
Muslim appeasement.
---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
