Is it true that Haj pilgrims are given a subsidy, whereas Hindu pilgrims to Amarnath, Sabarimalai and Kailash Mansarovar are taxed? If so, then what is the reason behind this?

BRY2K

Headline: NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday heaved a sigh of relief as the Supreme Court allowed it to continue its policy of subsidising the Haj pilgrimage and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for the year 2008. The Government of India gives a total of Rs. 32.5 lakhs (that is Rs. 3,250,000) for Hindus vs. total of Rs. 280 crores (2,800,000,000) for Moslems. Considering Hindus are 82% of 1.1B Indian population and Moslems are 11% of Indian population, the subsidy comes to Rs. 0.0036 for each Hindu and Rs. 23.14 for each Moslem in India. Where does this money come from? Well, of course, the money comes from the tax payers. Who are the tax payers? Assuming that the demographics of the tax payers are uniform, and the tax burden is shared equally by followers of both the religions equally (i.e., ignoring the fact that Hindus actually do pay more taxes than Moslems), it means that Hindus are subsidizing the Haj or Moslem pilgrimage. http://blog.indianpol.com/2008/01/hajj-pilgrims-to-get-subsidy-for.html May 29 08, 1:53 PM