State Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee promised stipends, houses, and medical insurance to Brahmin purohits (priests). Asking them no longer to agree with BJP, he, in addition, stated he’ll help build the agency on the grassroots degree. Banerjee becomes speak at a primary-of-its-type rally organized by using Paschim Banga Rajya Sanatan Brahmin Trust. Many Brahmin purohits collected at Rani Rashmoni Road on Friday to press for their 9-point needs, including stipends, houses, health insurance, and unfold of Sanskrit.
The circulate comes when BJP gained 18 seats in Bengal within the Lok Sabha polls and is attempting to woo the electorate on the grassroots degree. After coming to power, the TMC had introduced stipends for imams and muezzins, which became criticized from unique quarters, inclusive of the Brahmin purohits. Also, BJP has always targeted Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for Muslim appeasement. With lessons learned from Lok Sabha polls, wherein in lots of seats, a clear polarisation of votes became seen in favor of BJP and the critical meeting polls developing in 2021.
Trinamool Congress is accomplishing out to the Hindu community in Bengal. Just after the polls, the TMC has added in a fresh narrative of Bengaliness in the nation. The ballot consequences also showed that in seats with sizable SC and ST votes, TMC did badly. Coupled with that, it’s far important for the celebration to highlight its secular stand within the nation. Through reaching out to Brahmin purohits’ enterprises indirectly and helping it to unfold on the grassroots stage is a politically substantial flow of the birthday party. Through this, TMC also ambitions to counter BJP, whose unfold in Bengal has been a great deal dependent on gala’s like Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti and targeting the lead minister for Muslim appeasement.
At the rally, the minister stated, “I am unhappy that Brahmin purohits are in a depressing situation. Brahmins aren’t finished. They will display the way forward. We have shown that Brahmins have the courage to hold this kind of great rally at the coronary heart of Kolkata. No one has ever notion for the welfare of Brahmin purohits, who go to the door to door and store to keep to hope for us.”
“I will meet CM Mamata Banerjee together with your demands. I take it upon myself as a duty to make certain Brahmins get a month-to-month stipend. We nicely also ensure that there is a roof over your heads. The purohits are so poor that a number of them do not have proper roofs over their heads. We have a ‘swastha this health insurance scheme for the bad. Why have Brahmins not have it? I will make certain which you come below it. Some of your demands could be fulfilled this year. But all your needs will no longer be fulfilled overnight,” stated Banerjee. “I will also speak with the state education minister concerning Sanskrit training in colleges and setting up institutes for the spread of Sanskrit,” stated Banerjee.
The minister also asked the purohits to organize themselves underneath one umbrella.
“I will ask you to deliver all Brahmin purohits below one umbrella and unfold your organization to each block and meeting constituency. I am there with you and promise to fight for your needs,” said Banerjee. He also took a dig at BJP and requested all people to unmask the birthday party. “They (BJP) have made Lord Ram their political agent. They have used you and thrown you. It is time that they’re unmasked. They are double-confronted humans, who used faith for their politics,” stated Banerjee. He additionally promised that some other mega rally could shortly be held at Maidan near Shahid Minar.
Their nine-factor needs include a stipend for purohits who’re senior residents, monthly stipends for running purohits, houses for homeless Brahmins, identification evidence for the network, offering Sanskrit training in faculties from class five, and setting up of ‘Tols’ or academic institutes for youngsters of Brahmins.
Secretary of the purohits’ organization, Sridhar Misra, said: “We are thankful to Rajib Banerjee for helping us. We also are hopeful that Mamata Banerjee will pay attention to our pleas and assist. Brahmins’ purohits are in a difficult state of affairs in the state and want to assist. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation began stipends for Brahmin purohits at crematoriums after the Lok Sabha polls.
