MUMBAI: Muslim groups in India are supporting comments made by the country's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Monday that they were looking into “second thoughts” over continuing the Haj subsidy. Krishna said that a large number of Muslim organizations haved approached the government and have asked to see the subsidy canceled, but he did not specify which organizations specifically had asked for the removal. He had been responding to questions concerning whether Christian Indians wanting to pilgrimage to Palestine would also receive a subsidy. But not all Muslims are pleased. One family, a lower-middle-class Mumbai family told Bikyamasr.com that “the country hates Muslims, so if they find an organization or two then they will end it.” Mohamed continued to say that “two years ago, when my wife and I went on Haj, it was the government's help that made it possible and we hope it continues.” “There have been second thoughts even with reference to Haj. Haj reforms are taking place and this aspect will also form part of the reforms,” he said, adding the government was seriously looking into it. “We are eventually thinking of doing away with subsidy content. Large number of Muslim organizations want to abolish the subsidy concept for Haj,” Krishna said.
