FACTS ABOUT HAJJ SUBSIDY .

Those who are against the Hajj subsidy must know that its not just the Muslim Hajj where Indian government is providing the subsidy.There are other religious events to such subsidies.

Just last month(April 12)the government of Madhya Pradesh has expanded the subsidy scheme to Hindu pilgrims visiting Sita Mata Temple in Sri Lanka and Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia.
Such Indian Government provisions are already in place for pilgrimages to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet,Hinlaj Mata Mandir and Nankhana Saheb in Pakistan.

Muslims are also taxpayers in India.Muslims also have the rights to the national resources in the country.So,Muslims are doing nothing wrong by seeking subsidy for the Hajj.Subsidy is an initiative to help fund public welfare work.All religious Muslims sincerely want to perform the Hajj.Muslims are citizens of this secular country.The government should provide subsidy for the Hajj as it is doing to the Hindus and Sikhs.

A section of Muslims are against this Hajj subsidy because they know that the Hajj has to be self funded - not with the help of others. But they should know that subsidy they get for Hajj is not exactly other's money.its from the state.The state has its fund to help its citizens, which includes Muslims.Those Muslims who are against the subsidy should also know that photographing themselves is prohibited in Islam. But they have not refused to be photographed for their passport,ID cards,bank accounts and other purposes"'.

On Hillary Clinton’s Visit to South Asia

We are deeply disappointed with some issues raised by the U S Secretary of State, Ms. Hillary Clinton during her visit to India this week. As a sovereign country India is free to trade with any country on its own choice. We take strong exception to Ms Clinton's attempted intervention on our bi-lateral deal with Iran. We also object to Ms Clinton's interference in the matter of the water of river Teesta, which is an issue between two peaceful co-operative neighbours. We shall appreciate if no third party gets involved into the matter, uninvited.

Apart from it, we would have appreciated if Ms Clinton could make US ally Pakistan act against Hafiz Saeed, the man “wanted” in connection with 26/11 Mumbai blasts. The Americans should know that “colonial era is over” and India is not a banana republic like Pakistan. They must understand that India is not an insignificant state on the threshold of being identified as a “failed state” like Bangladesh where she openly supported former chairman of Grameen Bank and her old friend Mr.Younus.

India is a superpower in the region and a very important country in Asia. It has a distinct foreign policy and will not tolerate any intrusion from anyone including America.