Subhendu Adhikari’s government in West Bengal has announced a scheme of giving Rs 5 lakh each to 60 Rath Yatra committees, showering flowers from helicopters in Tarakeswar and Rs 1,000 crore for a religious-heritage circuit, triggering a new political conflict in West Bengal. The opposition has accused the BJP-led government of doing the same thing which it had once criticized during the tenure of Mamata Banerjee.
In fact, Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari said on Monday that the grant was to help traditional Rath Yatra organizers repair and refurbish old wooden chariots and preserve the religious heritage of Bengal. He also announced that flower petals will be showered from helicopters on devotees undertaking Shravan Yatra in Tarakeshwar this year. Apart from this, the state has unveiled a Rs 1,000 crore plan for heritage and religious tourism circuit, covering major pilgrimage sites across the state.
Trinamool Congress criticized
However, this step of the government has been criticized by Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy. He said that BJP had earlier wasted no time in opposing the grants given by Mamata Banerjee to Durga Puja committees and now it is following the same path. He said, ‘When Mamata gave money during Durga Puja, BJP had strongly opposed it. What are they doing today? Spending Rs 1,000 crore on religious circuit is also a wasteful expenditure.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh’s counterattack
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh also hit back saying that Mamata Banerjee has always stood with the people in times of need and BJP is now adopting the same method which it had criticized earlier. He said he had no objection to the funding, but questioned why the BJP had objected to similar assistance when the Trinamool government had provided assistance to puja committees.
TMC government also did this
The controversy has reignited the old debate over whether government support for religious festivals is a cultural duty or a misuse of public money. While the BJP says such spending helps preserve tradition and promote religious tourism, critics argue that the same logic should have applied when Mamata Banerjee’s government supported Durga Puja committees in previous years.
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