WB Minister: Don’t Take Govt Aid for Durga Puja
Dilip Ghosh says Puja grants violate constitutional norms; CM to decide soon
Berhampore: West Bengal Panchayat and rural development minister Dilip Ghosh asked the Durga Puja committees on Friday to organise the festival this time with their own funds collected as donations from the public instead of taking any financial aid from the state government like previous years during the Trinamul Congress rule.
Mr Ghosh said at a BJP meeting in Berhampore of Murshidabad on the occasion of Rakhi Purnima festival, "Don’t try to organise Durga Puja with the help of the state government's grant. This system is totally against our Constitution. Rather, organise Durga Puja with common people's donations and make it a people’s festival.”
He informed that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari would take a decision on this soon. Earlier, Mr Adhikari underlined in June that his government would financially support only those Durga Puja committees who lack funds. Meanwhile, Mr Ghosh also tied Rakshi in the hands of two NCPI MPs: Abu Taher Khan of Murshidabad and Khalilur Rahaman of Jangipur.
He made clear that his department would scrutinise all corruption complaints with special auditor teams against those who earlier syphoned crores of money by submitting fake bills after not completing their work.