JOIN USBlaming the Modi government for selectively targeting Haj pilgrims and continuing with the appeasement of Hindus, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the prime minister over the decision to withdraw Haj subsidy.
"In this year's budget, Haj subsidy is only Rs 200 cr. As per the apex court's directions, it would have ended anyway. Why the BJP and RSS call this minority appeasement while several state governments are continuing with doles for Hindu pilgrimages," the AIMIM president asked.
"The Uttar Pradesh government is spending public money on making Ram statue. For 2014 Kumbh Mela, Rs 1,150 cr of public money has been spent, in 2016 Modi government allocated through cultural ministry Rs 100 cr for Simhastha Maha Kumbh Mela in Madhya Pradesh, the state government spent Rs 3,400 cr from its pocket, is this not appeasement," he charged.
He further said that the present Uttar Pradesh government has been giving Rs 800 crore for pilgrimage to Kashi, Mathura and Ayodhya under the rejuvenation and spirituality augmentation scheme.
"Yogi says that he would give Rs 1.5 lakh for Manasasarovar yatra, will they stop that. Even the Congress government in Karnataka is doling Rs 20,000 per head for Chardham yatra," he said.