The Trinamool Congress reacts to the controversy kicked off by a Durga Puja committee in West Bengal, which decided to decline the annual donation by the state government in protest against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital.
The Uttarpara Sakti Sangha Club of Uttarpara in Hooghly District declared in front of the cameras that it would turn down the grant—hiked to Rs 85,000 this year from Rs 70,000 last year. Secretary of the club, Prasenjit Ghosh, said, "This decision is not political in any way. This is a token protest and the demand for quick punishment for the culprits in the RG Kar case.". "This year, we may have some financial difficulties in conducting the puja. But we have decided that we are not going to take this donation for Durga Puja this year."
The video went viral on social media in no time, with many netizens coming out in support of the committee's action with the tagline 'Meyer Bichar Din, Mayer pujo nejera bujhe nebo (Give justice to the daughter, leave worship of Mother to us).' Countering the growing sentiment, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh released a counter video, terming the gesture a publicity stunt relating to the RG Kar tragedy. "You might have enough money and you can opt to refuse the donation. Remember that Durga Puja involves a lot of economic activities. So better you pay the poor vendors and working class from your own pocket. The state government's donation to the community's Puja committees is meant for being circulated among the poor through these clubs." He argued.
CM Mamata Banerjee has declared that the donation quantum would be enhanced to Rs 1,00,000 from next year onwards.
Read also| Mamata Banerjee Warns of Delhi Protests if CBI Doesn't Resolve RG Kar Case by August 18
