Bengal BJP govt discontinues religion-based aid for priests, imams

KOLKATA: Bengal's BJP govt moved Monday to stamp out religion-based aid such as honorariums for mosque functionaries and priests, with CM Suvendu Adhikari asserting that "it was not the govt's job to distribute doles to imams, muezzins and purohits". "Financial assistance to imams, muezzins and purohits is being discontinued. A fresh notification will be issued listing the schemes that are being discontinued," Urban development and women and child affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said after a cabinet meeting where the decision was taken. The payments will be stopped from next month. Such stipends had been introduced by Mamata Banerjee-led TMC govt. They were being provided through the information and cultural affairs department, and minority affairs and madrassa education department. Adhikari doubled down on the decision to halt the payments. "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," he said. BJP welcomed the move. "The Constitution does not allow discrimination among communities based on religion. Govt will work for the people of Bengal. It will neither favour Hindus nor Muslims," BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said.