Ilyas, who also edits the Urdu weekly Afkar-e-Mili, says “there should be a separate institution for the regulation of Haj with no interference from the Government. Let Muslims decide themselves how to generate money to undertake Haj.” Pointing to the Sachar Committee findings, Ilyas says Muslims have emerged as a new backward class that needs uplift.

Of the 55 Islamic countries, not one, barring India, extends Haj subsidy because “Haj is not a state prerogative.” Though Pakistan had this subsidy till 1997, the Lahore High Court passed an order to discontinue it. There are independent institutions like Tabunghaji in Malaysia which regulate Haj in the country without offering any subsidy. They generate money for the pilgrimage after investing the deposits of intending Hajis.

Even religious scholars are calling for diversion of the subsidy amount towards basic infrastructure like education and healthcare. Mufti Nazeer-ud-Din, who runs Darul Aloom Rehimiya, Kashmir’s biggest seminary, echoes Ilyas: “We should be allowed have a separate institution to regulate Haj with very little influence from the Government. The Centre should channelise the subsidy amount for the welfare of Muslims. Allow us to control the annual pilgrimage ourselves.” Mehmood Madani goes a step further, calling for an institution like the SGPC for the pilgrimage “where there should be an electoral mechanism in place and representation from the Government. Overseeing of accounts should be the Centre’s only domain.” He also demanded global tenders for Haj flights “to make the pilgrimage cheaper” rather than being “monopolised by Air India.”