Trinamool Congress on Tuesday reacted sharply against the Central Government’s decision to withdraw subsidy for Haj pilgrims with senior Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim lambasting New Delhi for its “anti-Muslim policies.”
Hours after the decision was made public by Union Minister Muqtar Abbas Naqvi, the Bengal Urban Development Minister said, “the decision taken by the Central Government only exposes its anti-Muslim and anti-minority mindset” even as he attacked Naqvi calling him a “puppet in the hands of the BJP.”
When reminded that the Supreme Court had already termed subsidisation of Haj as unconstitutional he said “there are many such judgments which are awaiting implementation. One wonders why this was singled out for implementation so quickly and before due time.
He said “lakhs of people particularly the poor ones go to Haj every year but the decision taken by the Centre would force them to curtail their plans. Many poor religious-minded Muslims would not find it very difficult to go for Haj” and would perhaps have to sell out their lands to be able to fulfill their desires.
When asked whether his Government or party would do anything to soothe the feelings of the minorities he said it was for the Chief Minister to decide adding “she like many others must have been very pained by the decision.”
The Central Government “knows no other path but to ignite sentiments and extract votes. They have no political programmes but only communal bigotry which becomes evident from their policies” he maintained