- August 21, 2023
Money being spent to spur hatred among communities: Mamata Banerjee | India News – Times of India
KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged money is being spent to spur hatred among communities, and claimed that Left-backed unions were involved in the recent death of a Jadavpur University fresher.
Banerjee, speaking during a function at Netaji Indoor Stadium here, said that she supports the opposition bloc INDIA at the national level, but the CPM, Congress and the BJP are hand-in-glove in her state.
The chief minister, who was speaking at a conference of Imams, also hiked the allowances given to registered Hindu and Muslim religious teachers in the state by Rs 500 per month.
“Money is being spent to spur hatred among communities in the country… The BJP is funding some minority leaders to instigate communal tension ahead of the Lok Sabha polls,” she said.
The saffron party is also trying to use the Congress and CPIM against the TMC in Bengal, the CM asserted.
“I am with INDIA at the national level … However, the CPM-Congress-BJP have joined hands in West Bengal. The tenure of the Modi government is just six more months and the BJP wants votes to be divided in the state,” she said.
“The BJP is trying to divide the masses on religious lines. We are against any form of animosity on the basis of religion,” the Trinamool Congress supremo said.
On the issue of the death of a first-year JU student after he was allegedly ragged and sexually harassed a few days back, Banerjee claimed that CPM and other Left-aligned students’ unions were responsible for it.
“We feel proud of Jadavpur University. But, we have seen how CPM and other Leftist students’ unions are behind the student’s death. They will never change. They have been playing with blood for years, and are still not at peace. This has to stop,” she said.
Her remarks drew a sharp reaction from the CPM, which accused Banerjee of trying to divert attention from the “administrative failures” of the state-run university.
“What has happened is unfortunate… How can she blame someone when the investigation is underway? The chief minister is trying to influence the probe,” said CPM Rajya Sabha member Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.
Banerjee, who announced a hike of Rs 500 in the allowances of Imams, Muazzims and Hindu priests, said her secular credentials are often questioned whenever she attends programmes of minorities.
The Imams receive a monthly allowance of Rs 2,500, while Muazzims get a stipend of Rs 1,000.
In 2020, just months ahead of the assembly polls, the TMC government had announced a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 and free housing for over 8,000 priests of Bengal.
Banerjee, speaking during a function at Netaji Indoor Stadium here, said that she supports the opposition bloc INDIA at the national level, but the CPM, Congress and the BJP are hand-in-glove in her state.
The chief minister, who was speaking at a conference of Imams, also hiked the allowances given to registered Hindu and Muslim religious teachers in the state by Rs 500 per month.
“Money is being spent to spur hatred among communities in the country… The BJP is funding some minority leaders to instigate communal tension ahead of the Lok Sabha polls,” she said.
The saffron party is also trying to use the Congress and CPIM against the TMC in Bengal, the CM asserted.
“I am with INDIA at the national level … However, the CPM-Congress-BJP have joined hands in West Bengal. The tenure of the Modi government is just six more months and the BJP wants votes to be divided in the state,” she said.
“The BJP is trying to divide the masses on religious lines. We are against any form of animosity on the basis of religion,” the Trinamool Congress supremo said.
On the issue of the death of a first-year JU student after he was allegedly ragged and sexually harassed a few days back, Banerjee claimed that CPM and other Left-aligned students’ unions were responsible for it.
“We feel proud of Jadavpur University. But, we have seen how CPM and other Leftist students’ unions are behind the student’s death. They will never change. They have been playing with blood for years, and are still not at peace. This has to stop,” she said.
Her remarks drew a sharp reaction from the CPM, which accused Banerjee of trying to divert attention from the “administrative failures” of the state-run university.
“What has happened is unfortunate… How can she blame someone when the investigation is underway? The chief minister is trying to influence the probe,” said CPM Rajya Sabha member Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.
Banerjee, who announced a hike of Rs 500 in the allowances of Imams, Muazzims and Hindu priests, said her secular credentials are often questioned whenever she attends programmes of minorities.
The Imams receive a monthly allowance of Rs 2,500, while Muazzims get a stipend of Rs 1,000.
In 2020, just months ahead of the assembly polls, the TMC government had announced a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 and free housing for over 8,000 priests of Bengal.
