Events & Personalities
Subsidized travel to Iran
"The Government of India subsidizes… minority communities like the Muslims for their yearly visits to Mecca… The Parsi community (has) a population of less than a hundred thousand individuals… (They) hope to visit their motherland and religious places in Iran, but restrict travel due to excessive costs… Even if Government of India allows 1,000 Parsis to travel on a subsidized trip to Iran, it would be at a cost of mere five crore rupees per year,” wrote Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) MLA (member of the legislative assembly) from the Malabar Hill constituency in Bombay, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 16, 2014. The letter was acknowledged by the Prime Minister’s office on July 25, 2014. The missive was also sent to finance minister Arun Jaitley and Dr Najma Heptulla, minority affairs minister, as per an email received from BJP activist Minoo Khan.
Lodha’s letter also notes that since its advent in the country centuries ago, the community "has been a stronghold in the cultural and financial development of our nation, especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra.” In it he refers to Modi’s visit to Udvada in April 2011 when "you would have been able to see the genuine kindness of the community” and "they became your admirers as well.” Since the community is currently "financially marginalized” and has "limited income,” such a subsidy would help them visit their place of origin.
According to Khan’s email, Lodha has also donated Rs 15 lakhs from his cemetery funds for laying new drainage pipes from the lower bunglis at Doongerwadi up to the main entrance. The work is being carried out with help from Nilesh Karle of the BJP, Bombay Parsi Punchayet’s civil engineer Khushru Bharucha, Doongerwadi manager Jimmy Poonawala and himself.
However, not all Parsis are in favor of the proposed subsidy, reported Hindustan Times (HT) on August 22, 2014. "It is a bad idea; we have never asked for a pilgrimage subsidy. Reservation of seats in educational institutions will help us more,” Viraf Kapadia, a resident of Godrej Baug informed HT. "I do not think the government should subsidize the pilgrimage,” opined Noshir Parelwala of New Bombay to HT, adding, "Okay, they can help poor Parsis, but people who can afford the pilgrimage do not need a subsidy.”
The HT report also reveals that subsidies for pilgrimages are facing a legal hurdle. The Andhra Pradesh government’s 2008 plan for a grant for Christian pilgrims traveling to holy sites in Israel was stayed by the State’s high court. Another factor is that some see Lodha’s subsidy idea as a ruse to garner votes at the forthcoming elections to the Maharashtra state assembly. Many Parsi colonies as well as the homes of more affluent members of the community are located in Lodha’s constituency, notes HT.
Lodha’s letter also notes that since its advent in the country centuries ago, the community "has been a stronghold in the cultural and financial development of our nation, especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra.” In it he refers to Modi’s visit to Udvada in April 2011 when "you would have been able to see the genuine kindness of the community” and "they became your admirers as well.” Since the community is currently "financially marginalized” and has "limited income,” such a subsidy would help them visit their place of origin.
According to Khan’s email, Lodha has also donated Rs 15 lakhs from his cemetery funds for laying new drainage pipes from the lower bunglis at Doongerwadi up to the main entrance. The work is being carried out with help from Nilesh Karle of the BJP, Bombay Parsi Punchayet’s civil engineer Khushru Bharucha, Doongerwadi manager Jimmy Poonawala and himself.
However, not all Parsis are in favor of the proposed subsidy, reported Hindustan Times (HT) on August 22, 2014. "It is a bad idea; we have never asked for a pilgrimage subsidy. Reservation of seats in educational institutions will help us more,” Viraf Kapadia, a resident of Godrej Baug informed HT. "I do not think the government should subsidize the pilgrimage,” opined Noshir Parelwala of New Bombay to HT, adding, "Okay, they can help poor Parsis, but people who can afford the pilgrimage do not need a subsidy.”
The HT report also reveals that subsidies for pilgrimages are facing a legal hurdle. The Andhra Pradesh government’s 2008 plan for a grant for Christian pilgrims traveling to holy sites in Israel was stayed by the State’s high court. Another factor is that some see Lodha’s subsidy idea as a ruse to garner votes at the forthcoming elections to the Maharashtra state assembly. Many Parsi colonies as well as the homes of more affluent members of the community are located in Lodha’s constituency, notes HT.
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