BJP MLA asked Muslim women to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ for welfare benefits

Kolkata: A BJP MLA in West Bengal’s Bankura allegedly forced a group of Muslim women to chant “Jai Shri Ram” when they approached him over delays in receiving benefits under a welfare scheme, according to a report by The Wire.

The women, from the Khedardanga area of Bankura Municipality, had approached BJP MLA Niladri Sekhar Dana after failing to receive financial assistance under the Annapurna Yojana, which provides eligible women with Rs 3,000 a month through Direct Benefit Transfer.

The women had first approached the Bankura Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) in September, saying they had applied for the scheme both online and offline but had not received the money. The SDO subsequently directed them to attend the ‘Seba Setu Abhijan’, a government programme where people can directly raise grievances with officials. The programme was held on October 2.

Instead of getting their grievances addressed at the camp, the women were asked to meet Dana. Around 30 women subsequently went to his office, where they alleged that the MLA refused to help them and instead asked them to chant “Jai Shri Ram”.

The women further alleged that Dana told them that Muslim families would receive the benefits only after Hindu women had been provided assistance. They also alleged that he told them, “We did not win by getting Muslim votes, so your problems can be considered later.”

Some people accompanying the MLA also allegedly made obscene gestures towards the women, according to their complaint.

Dana admitted that he had made the women chant “Jai Shri Ram” but denied making any remarks intended to humiliate them. He said he could not be held responsible for anything said by others present at the office.

The women are now planning to meet the Bankura SDO in person to seek an explanation and submit a complaint over the incident and the delay in receiving the welfare benefits.