Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Haj subsidy

This refers to the news that the Supreme Court has cleared Haj subsidy for 2006 (Sept. 19). The Court's poser whether granting subsidy to one pilgrimage does not violate the secular character of the Constitution has proved that it is the bulwark against illogically conceived policies and programmes of governments, dictated by various political needs.

Amaruvi Devanathan,
Tokyo

* * *

The Court has reinforced that it stands for the common man's interest. Taxpayers' money should not be used for the cause of a particular religious group. Revenue from temples and other places of worship should be spent on improving facilities.

P. Anand,
Chennai

* * *

The only political party that was keen on the abolition of Haj subsidy was the BJP. But it refused to do away with it in the six years of the NDA rule at the Centre, which exposed its double standards. At the same time, it should be said that availing oneself of Haj subsidy is un-Islamic. Even Muslim nations do not offer subsidy for Haj to their poorest citizens.

S.A. Nasser Khan,
Chennai

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