Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:31pm on 18 May 2026,Monday Politics
The West Bengal government has decided to discontinue religion-based stipend schemes for imams and purohits, marking a major policy shift under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The decision was taken during the BJP government’s second cabinet meeting, where Adhikari stated that taxpayer money should prioritise education and welfare over religious allowances. The cabinet simultaneously approved a new financial assistance scheme for women and free bus travel for women across the state. The move has triggered sharp political reactions, with supporters describing it as an end to “appeasement politics” while critics are expected to question its social and electoral implications. The government indicated that scholarship and education-focused initiatives would now receive greater policy emphasis instead of direct religious stipen
