source: The Hindu, November 11, 2008

(CrusadeWatch Editor's Note:  For a radical Christian  Head of the State, paying for a Christian's visit to Jerusalem is more important than feeding hungry people.  The money used to send each Christian is enough to feed a poor family for an year).

J.S. Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD: Once the last batch of Hajis departs on November 16, Haj House will play host to another set of pilgrims.

This time it will be the Christian pilgrims. They will arrive here from different parts of the State to embark on the pilgrimage to the holy land of Jerusalem.

The first batch of 45 Christians will leave for Jerusalem on November 25 as part of the State government’s novel scheme to help Christians visit the places connected with the life of Jesus Christ. They will fly from Hyderabad to Jordan and Israel on a seven day package tour being organised by the A.P. State Minorities Finance Corporation (APSMFC).

The government already issued a G.O. MS 29 in July to facilitate the Christians undertake the pilgrimage.

A subsidy of Rs. 20,000 will be provided to every pilgrim on par with the Haj pilgrims. Government has set apart a budget of Rs. 2 crore for the financial year 2008-09.

A total of 160 Christians applied under the scheme of which 45 were selected by a screening committee, according to Mohd Ilayas Rizvi, vice chairman and managing director, APSMFC.

He said that the pilgrimage would cost Rs. 56,000 which is inclusive of food, accommodation and transport. Pilgrims however have to bear the balance amount of Rs. 36,000.

The first batch of pilgrims includes 14 couples. “It is an ongoing scheme and pilgrims will be sent in batches of 50 till the budget for this year is exhausted,” Dr. Rizvi said. The pilgrimage will cover Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus Christ, places of crucifixion, death and resurrection.

Pilgrims will also be taken to Nazareth where Christ was brought up, Jordan river, the place of baptism and places of preaching around Dead Sea and sea of Galilee.

How are the pilgrims selected? Well they have to be bona fide Christians certified through academic records, MRO or Baptism certificate. Selection is done on first come first served basis with preference to white card holders, couples and aged persons. Applicants should possess valid passports with minimum two year validity at the time of applying. Aspirants can register online www.apsmfc.com.