The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in West Bengal has decided to discontinue financial assistance provided to religious functionaries, including imams, muezzins, and Hindu priests (purohits). Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that it is not the government's role to distribute such doles and emphasized a focus on education and employment for all communities.
Cabinet Decision and Implementation
Urban development and women and child affairs minister Agnimitra Paul announced the decision after a cabinet meeting, confirming that a fresh notification will be issued listing the schemes being discontinued. The payments will be halted from the next month. These stipends were introduced by the previous Trinamool Congress government under Mamata Banerjee and were administered through the information and cultural affairs department as well as the minority affairs and madrassa education department.
Chief Minister's Statement
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reiterated the government's stance, stating, "Our job is to improve education, to give jobs to youths. We have stopped every religious dole. We will provide Vivekananda scholarship to meritorious and poor students from all communities. There will not be any appeasement politics in Bengal."
BJP's Support
The decision has been welcomed by the state BJP. Party state president Samik Bhattacharya said, "The Constitution does not allow discrimination among communities based on religion. The government will work for the people of Bengal. It will neither favour Hindus nor Muslims."
