Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi says Muslim women can perform Haj without male guardian

In his monthly radio address of ‘Mann ki baat’, the prime minister said removal of the restriction of having a male guardian or ‘mahram’ may appear as a “small thing”, but such issues “have a far reaching impact on our image as a society”. 

“Why this discrimination? And when I went into the depth of the matter I was surprised to find that even after 70 years of our independence, we were the ones who had imposed these restrictions. 

He said he has suggested to the Ministry of Minority Affairs that they should ensure that all women who have applied to travel alone be allowed to perform Haj.

“Usually there is a lottery system for selection of Haj pilgrims but I would like that single women pilgrims should be excluded from this lottery system and they should be given a chance as a special category,” he said.

For decades, injustice was being rendered to Muslim women but there was no discussion on it,” he said in his broadcast. Referring to Christmas, Modi said Jesus Christ taught us about the spirit of service or ‘sewa bhaav’.

“Be it any religion, caste or creed, tradition or colour in this world; the spirit of service is an invaluable hallmark of the highest human values,” he said.

In it's 38th edition, the Prime Minister urged humanitarian forces to unite against terrorism and also advised farmers to lessen urea use.

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Umpteen responses are received from the citizenry which can be read at the PM's website www. narendramodi.in.

Here are the live updates: 

# In the history of independent India it will be the first ever Republic day when heads of 10 member nations of ASEAN countries will grace us on January 26. 

# From now Muslim women will be kept out of the lottery system of Haj pilgrimage. 

# I am happy to reveal that the Minority Affairs Ministry has removed the blockade of Muslim women unable to go for Haj without mehram. 

# There will be a survey on Swachh bharat from January 4 to March 10, 2018. Your city and town will be surveyed on several paramenters.

# Sabarimala temple at Kerala is one of the most sought after pilgrimage all over the world. Cleanliness is a challenge there.  

# In 1990 terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir burned the home of Anjum Bashir Khan, still he chose public service over hatred and became inspirational for the whole country. 

# I have been calling to refrain from negativity and move towards optimism. 

We can have mock Parliaments in our districts, where we discuss how to make development a mass movement and transform India. The New India Youth must take a lead in this. #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/b7ysbh4XYT

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 31, 2017

# The new India I see is that which is free of corruption, communalism, casteism, terrorism. 

# Indian democracy welcomes the 21st century voters who will be turning 18 from January 1, 2018 onwards

# PM hails the life and contribution of Guru Goving Singh. 

(With PTI inputs)