In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to put an end to the “VIP culture” in the country, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Smriti Irani stated on Wednesday that the Centre has scrapped the discretionary Haj quota for pilgrims.
‘A decision has been taken [to end discretionary quota in Haj]. Prime Minister Modi had put forward his resolve to end VIP culture on the very first day of his term. VIP culture was put in place with respect to Haj during the UPA rule under which there was a special quota allocated to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Haj Committee and all those in the top constitutional posts,” while hitting out at the Congress’s VIP culture Smriti Irani told TV9 Bharatvarsh channel.
Irani stated that the President, Vice-President, as well as herself as the Minister of Minority Affairs, have committed to the move to the people. She also noted that 5,000 seats were reserved under the quota when it was established in 2012. Irani continued, saying that a new “exhaustive” Haj strategy was being developed to demonstrate the Prime Minister’s commitment to meeting the needs of the underprivileged. She promised to make the announcement soon.
Supreme Court described the VIP quota for Haj pilgrims as a “bad religious practice”
The Supreme Court described the VIP quota for Haj pilgrims as a “bad religious practice” after hearing a suit filed by the Centre in 2011 that contested an earlier Bombay High Court order ordering the Center to offer quota to 800 Haj pilgrims to private operators.
The VIP limit for the Haj pilgrimage was decreased by the Supreme Court in 2012 from 2,500 to just 240. The President might nominate 70 pilgrims under the new restrictions, the Vice-President 60, the Prime Minister 60, and the Minister of External Affairs 50. The other 2,260 people were transferred to the general Haj category.
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