A Muslim scholar who is the prayer leader of India’s second largest Mosque told Sputnik that as taking grants and subsidies for embarking on the pilgrimage is not mentioned in Islam, therefore, the Muslim community is unlikely to oppose the move.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The government of India has announced the abolition of a Haj subsidy that helped the country’s Muslim minority to visit the holy Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia without having to pay the exorbitant airfare as well as providing help towards food and medical care.

The Indian government has justified its step by claiming that it would focus on the socio-economic uplift of the Muslim minority rather than appeasing the community with the subsidy for pilgrimage.

Full story: sputniknews.com

Sputnik International