debate on

subsidies for pilgrimage
to unholy hell complex?

By Kulamarva Balakrishna

Chemnitz,Germany,Wednesday,December 26,2007: Here is an
article for discussion in India.I have copied it from today´s =Faith
Freedom International=. I am not a practising Hindu.I do not mind
some cash subsidies being given to pilgrims.But after what I learn
about the dark deeds of the custodian of the unholy hell complex,
and his prince darlings criminal activities indulged with multinational
retainers´ (pimps in simple word) logistic support, single voter
democracy of King Abdulla and his 5,000 odd criminal princes
who deal in drugs and damsels including indulging slave trade
with full co-operation of the Sultan of Brunei, I think we should stop
him exporting criminality in the name of religion.For that the first
step should be public awareness and education.The debate should
help.

I suggest West Bengal´s ruling Left Front leaders including the
Chief Minister Buddhodeb should make a Haj at the invitation
of King Abdullah. Even though they are not Muslims,pilgrims
accept public subsidies routed through them.King Abdullah
should invite them as honoured guests for Haj,=pradakshina=
clockwise ceremonial round movement to the single idol=kaba=,
throwing of stones to Satan, and ceremonial head shaving as in
India´s Tirupati temple etc.Let man cart rider Jyoti Basu,
television star Sitaram Yechury and other left over Left
celebrities of the world, make a study of the sand land´s law
and order situation and report.

One more point,let the Left Delegation also report on the
genocide they promoted in the land of the pure,Pakistan.
Why our fellow South Asians most of whom are none other
than our own blood, let us have a performance audit pure
and simple.

I am presenting it in the context of mini prophet mullah mob
leader in India, Imam Bukhari (the man with 24 hours fever),
who led the mob attack to deny Taslima Nasrin her rights.I
would like here the discussion cover on the mullah mobs stand
on the status of Khadija Bint Khuwaylid/tul Kubra,the mother
of Islam,(vande mataram) on the single vote democracy of the
custodian of hell complex in sand land Saudi Arabia,the
kingdom´s 5,000 odd princes´unholy slave trade in young
girls and boys as well as drugs,the mullah mob´s justice
system which punished a Shia teenager victim of 14 gang
rapes by a gang of seven for 200 whiplashes,whip held in
hand with unholy Qúran!This is not any official position
but my own personal initiative.In that context, I present
Faith Freedom contributor Shabana Muhammed as opener
of a debate on subsidies to visit the hell complex in the
name of religion.It was not my idea to begin the debate.
But I support her and Faith Freedom International, who are
set to cleanse Islam.Her text is given below, Shabana today
is my guest commentator as well.
Shabana´s text:

By Shabana Muhammad

It has been widely reported that the present ruling coalition in India, United Progressive Alliance heaved a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court bailed it out on the issue of Haj subsidy. Last year, too, the Centre had to move the apex court against an order of the Allahabad high court banning subsidies for all pilgrimages irrespective of religion. Though the Supreme Court had lifted the ban for 2006, it did express misgivings about subsidies given to pilgrimages by a secular state.

The fears expressed by the apex court deserve earnest consideration by all those who aspire to make India a truly democratic and secular republic. Should a purely religious activity like a pilgrimage get state patronage? Is financial assistance of a secular state in the performance of religious obligations permissible going by the tenets of that religion?

Although Indian secularism recognises the institution of religion, it does not permit the state to sponsor or promote any religious activity. This finds expression in the Constitution, particularly in Part III that deals with the fundamental rights. Right to freedom of religion, provided in Articles 25, 26, 27 and 28, guarantee religious freedom to all citizens of India. All religions are equal before the state and no religion can be given preference over the other. Imparting of religious education in state-funded educational institutions and levying special taxes to support any particular religion are prohibited The insertion of the word ‘secular' in the Preamble in 1976 was merely a reiteration of the provisions in the Constitution. In view of this, the policy of giving subsidies to religious activities like pilgrimage to Mecca amounts to an infringe-ment of the principle of secularism as well as of the Constitution. The Congress and its allies in the UPA, who shout in support of secularism from the rooftops, should realise that by extending subsidies to pilgrimages they are not only tarnishing the secular fabric of the Indian state but, so far as Haj subsidy is concerned, are also falling prey to the bogey of Muslim appeasement.

The government must put an end to the policy of funding religion. Let us consider the Haj, for which the Centre has to shell out a whopping Rs 2.8 billion this year. Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam. A devout Muslim has to recite with complete conviction the kalima; he must say prayers five times a day; he has to observe rozas (fasting) for a maximum 30 days during the month of Ramzan; he is expected to pay zakat, which is the Islamic concept of tithing and alms; and finally, he should embark on a pilgrimage (Haj) to Mecca.

The first three obligations are binding on almost all devout believers whereas the other two are conditional on those who can financially afford to perform them. Haj falls in the latter category. It is the last obligation to be performed by those Muslims who are financially, physically and mentally sound to undertake the journey to Mecca. A Muslim should not go on pilgrimage to Mecca by way of borrowing money from someone or by seeking financial assistance from the state. Only a Muslim who has fulfilled all his familial responsibilities and has carried out all the financial duties should undertake the pilgrimage of Haj with his hard-earned money.

A trip to Saudi Arabia with state subsidy cannot be called Haj in the strict Islamic sense. The Haj committee that is supposed to manage and facilitate the travel plans of pilgrims should have complete autonomy and be constituted by the community rather than government. A completely autonomous Haj committee can directly negotiate with various airlines for getting the best deals for pilgrims. This would be in accordance with past traditions where a pilgrim going with a caravan would haggle with the leader to get the most economical passage. Such an arrangement would also absolve the government of the charge of Muslim appeasement.(end)