By IANS,
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui Tuesday criticised the central government over the reduction in the Haj subsidy saying it has increased the burden on the state’s 28,000 Haj pilgrims.
Talking to mediapersons after sending off the first batch of Haj pilgrims here, Siddiqui said: “There was no logic in reducing the subsidy after which every Haj pilgrim would now have to shell out Rs.4,000 over and above the existing subsidized fee.”
Now against the fee of Rs.12,000, each Haj aspirant will have to pay a revised fee of Rs.16,000.
“The fact that the reduction in subsidy was done shortly after the recent assembly elections to three states is enough reason to believe that the central government’s decision was politically motivated,” he charged.
Siddiqui said he would write to the union government in this regard.
“We are going to register our protest against the move by writing to the union government. I hope the government will withdraw the order to save the Haj aspirants from this avoidable burden,” he said.