On Monday (August 21), the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal govt higher the per month honorarium of Islamic clerics (Imams) and Hindu clergymen (purohits) by way of ₹500.
As such, the efficient per month building up of allowance to Imams and purohits has higher to ₹3000 (up from ₹2500) and ₹1500 (up from ₹1000). Muslim people who give Islamic name to prayer (Azaan), popularly referred to as muezzins, will likely be paid an honorarium at par with Hindu clergymen i.e. ₹1500 per 30 days.
Whilst talking concerning the topic within the Netaji Indoor stadium in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee mentioned, “Wakf board used to present the allowance of imams and muezzins. Our capability is restricted. I’d request to extend their per month allowance by way of Rs 500. We also are expanding the per month allowance of purohits by way of Rs 500.”
In the meantime Mamata Banerjee hiked the stipend of Imams by way of Rs 500. Overall allowance for Imam is Rs 3000. For Purohits, it’s Rs 1500 (after hike). https://t.co/zProcWTSms %.twitter.com/SZIVMGmcl3
— Keya Ghosh (@keyakahe) August 22, 2023
As such, the allowance given to the Imam has doubled compared to the Hindu clergymen. The advance comes at a time when the State is reeling underneath a monetary crunch. A senior member of the Finance Division informed The Indian Specific, “We have no idea how we will organize this burden.”
It will have to be discussed that the West Bengal govt underneath Mamata Banerjee offered the scheme of honorarium for Muslim clerics and muezzins inside only a 12 months of coming to energy.
In a notification launched on April 19, 2012, by way of the Division of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Training, the federal government introduced, “The District Justice of the Peace may also requisition budget for a length of two(TWO) months, first of all, at the foundation of the selection of imams of the District @ Rs. 2500/- in step with IMAM per 30 days.”
Balancing act by way of Mamata Banerjee
8 years after the honorarium scheme for Imams and Muezzins got here into drive, Mamata Banerjee introduced a per month allowance for Hindu clergymen in September 2020.
It is very important point out that the selection of Hindu beneficiaries was once simply 8000, in comparison to 55,000 Imams. So as to add salt to the wound, their pay now could be ₹1500 per 30 days, which is 50% lower than that of Imams.
That is in spite of the West Bengal CM’s declare of running for all communities. “So long as I’m alive and my birthday party is in energy, I can be there for everybody and paintings for all communities. By no means assume that I’ve forgotten you,” she mentioned on Monday (August 21).
পিসির প্রত্যেকটি আচার-আচরণে স্পষ্ট সাম্প্রদায়িক বৈষম্য। মানুষে মানুষে হিংসা তৈরি করবার পথটি সুগম করেছেন। পিসির সব অঙ্কই ভোটের অঙ্কে মাপা।
রাজ্যের মুখ্যমন্ত্রী হয়েই তিনি বিভেদ রাজনীতি শুরু করেছেন। সেই ট্রাডিশন এখনও চলছে। মানব দরদি হয় পিসির ভান। %.twitter.com/J1b5OPPgE4
— BJP Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) February 1, 2021
The problem of discrepancy in per month honorarium was once raised by way of BJP chief Suvendu Adhikari in February 2021. Mamata Banerjee has ceaselessly been accused of Muslim appeasement. It will have to be discussed that she imposed restrictions at the immersion of Durga idols in 2016 and 2017 to make method for Muharram processions.