West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today slammed the divisive forces in the country and the growing intolerance in India. She said no one has the right to dictate others what to eat or what to wear. Making a strong case for freedom of religion, she said that unity is strength and divisiveness spells doom.
Speaking at an event on the occasion of Minority Rights Day at Furfura Sharif, WB CM said under her government the budget of minority affairs department had increased five fold. “Few days ago a delegation of our MPs visited the Union Minister of Minority Affairs. They asked her to increase quota for scholarships,” she added.
WB CM announced the formation of Furfura Sharif Development Authority headed by Firhad Hakim. She allotted Rs 10 crore for the working of the board.
“Everybody has a right to religion. You can practice your faith freely. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isaai. Apas mein rehna bhai bhai,” the Chief Minister said.
Mamata Banerjee added: “We do not support Dadri killing. It is my right to eat fish. You can eat whichever meat you want. Some people wanted meat ban in Bengal during Durga Puja. I asked them will you ask a ban on fish? Don’t vegetables have life? Even plants have life. Will you ask people to stop eating vegetables? You eat what you want. Let others eat what they want.”
Vocally supporting the idea of ‘Sarva Dharma Samanyay’ she said, “Some people call their mother Ma, some call her Ammi. You cannot divide your mother. This is what Ramakrishna preached.”
In her speech, WB CM also listed the various initiatives by her government for minority development:
- We have initiated several schemes worth Rs 75 crore at Furfura Sharif
- We have increased budget for minority department five fold from Rs 470 Cr to Rs 2400 Cr
- The Left distributed scholarships to 8 lakh minority students in last 4 years. We distributed scholarships to 84 lakh students
- We have started Aliah University. Over 10000 people from Bengal went for Haj pilgrimage
- We have introduced reservation for OBCs and minorities without touching general category
- We have given computers to madrassahs. We are ready to recognise unaided madrassahs but we are unable to pay their salaries
- Polytechnic colleges and ITIs are coming up. We are setting up Karma Tirthas where the youth will get jobs
- We have built several hostels for students. We have built Minority Bhavan in 17 districts
- We have given second language status to Urdu. We have set up Urdu Academy
- We have instituted a Chair after Iqbal at Aliah University. He penned “Saare Jahaan Se Achha”
