Haj Subsidy Scam: Where were 790 Crore Spent?

Afroz Alam Sahil, BeyondHeadlines

New Delhi.  The Supreme Court on Monday will hear a special leave petition filed by Union of India against the verdict of Mumbai High Court in a case regarding Haj Subsidy and Haj quota to private tour operators.

Vivek Jeph, under secretary Ministry of External Affairs, has filed an affidavit in Supreme Court on behalf of Union of India giving details about Haj subsidy and other Haj related Functions.

According to the affidavit the Haj Subsidy given by Government of India in Year 2011 was 685 crore. The Government pays Haj subsidy on Airfare.

Shockingly in a reply to RTI filed by BeyondHeadlines the Ministry of External Affairs on 20^th April, 2012 said that the subsidy paid in year 2011 was 605 crores.

The difference of 80 Crore in the affidavit and the RTI indicates towards a new scam in name of Haj Subsidy or the Government of India is lying to the Supreme Court by Producing False facts.

More Shockingly in last year 124921 Hajis went to Haj by Haj Committee of India. The Government paid subsidy of 38,800 per Haji on the airfare. If we calculate the total Haj subsidy on airfare it comes to nearly 483 crores.

But in the Affidavit the government says 685 crores were spent on the Haj Subsidy. BeyondHeadlines and the people of India would like to ask the government that where were 202 crores spent?

It should be noted that the government pays Haj Subsidy only on the airfare.  In last five years the Government (as per the affidavit submitted in SC) paid Haj Subsidy of 3347 Crores. Shockingly the total Airfare subsidy comes to 2557 Crores (calculated on No. of Hajis and Airfare).

The data show that 790 Crore more were spent on Haj Subsidy then the total subsidy on Airfare in last 5 years.  This difference indicates towards a larger scam in name of Haj Subsidy.

Also why there is difference in facts provided through RTI and in the affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court.  There are also differences in No. of Hajis as well.

According to the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court the Government says that Ministry of Civil Aviation floats a tender to select an airline to get competitive fare to ferry Haj Pilgrims.  From 2007 onwards the airfare is as follows. 47182, 72640, 55200, 47675, 54800.

The airfare is fluctuating every year but in 2008 it was shockingly high and the government paid subsidy of 60640, which is nearly double from the earlier and later year. BeyondHeadlines would like to ask the MEA that what happened in 2008 that ministry was forced to select an Airline with such high rates? In 2008 the total airfare subsidy paid was 895 crore, which is nearly double to the earlier year.

The tables below shows the difference in Haj Subsidy.

Affidavit submitted in Hon’ble Supreme Court

Information Received by RTI

*Includes provisional figures