‘Chant Jai Shri Ram, then get aid’: Muslim women accuse Bengal BJP MLA

Muslim women in West Bengal’s Bankura have accused BJP MLA Niladri Sekhar Dana of humiliating them when they sought help over delayed welfare payments, alleging that they were asked to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and told Hindu women would receive Annapurna Yojana benefits before Muslim women, The Wire and The Observer Post report. Dana has denied making any insulting remarks.

Around 30 women from Khetardanga in Ward 19 of Bankura Municipality visited Dana’s office near Bhairabsthan on October 2 after being directed there by officials at a government outreach camp.

The women said they had gone to seek help after failing to receive the Rs 3,000 monthly payment promised under the Annapurna scheme, a financial assistance programme for women from distressed families.

According to the women, Dana raised “Jai Shri Ram” slogans when they arrived. When they asked about their welfare payments, they allege he told them Hindu women would receive the money first and Muslim women later.

One of the women, Sharifi Bibi, further alleged that Dana told them, “We did not win with Muslim votes, so your issue will be considered later.”

“Why is the MLA dividing people into Hindus and Muslims? We did not go there to discuss votes or politics. We went to a government-sponsored camp because we were told to go there,” Nurjan Bibi, another woman who met Dana, said.

Several women also alleged that people accompanying the MLA made obscene gestures at them and asked them to chant “Jai Shri Ram” in exchange for Annapurna benefits.

“We went expecting help, but instead we were humiliated,” Nurjan said.

The women’s initial complaint was about delayed Annapurna payments. Many said they had applied for the scheme both online and offline but had not received a single instalment since the BJP came to power in West Bengal.

They first approached the Bankura Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) in late September over the issue. The SDO’s office reportedly directed them to attend a “Seba Setu Abhijan”, a government outreach camp being held from October 2 to 4.

The women went to the camp at Godhuli Lodge on October 2 with their documents but said they were again redirected, this time to the BJP MLA.

Most residents of Khetardanga are Muslim and depend heavily on daily-wage work. Professor Pratip Mukherjee, former head of the economics department at Bankura Sammilani College, told The Wire that many residents work intermittently at the railway goods shed or in local markets, leaving families struggling to make ends meet.

The women said they returned home deeply distressed after their encounter with Dana. Several told The Wire they could not eat after returning home, with the incident leaving them feeling humiliated.

The women plan to approach the Bankura SDO on October 6 to seek an explanation for the delay in their Annapurna payments. They also want to know whether the MLA was authorised to address them differently based on their religion.

Responding to the allegations, Dana acknowledged that he had said “Jai Shri Ram” but denied insulting the women.

“Yes I said ‘Jai Shri Ram’ but I did not say anything insulting to any women. I told them that the matter would be looked into,” he told The Wire.

Dana added that many people were present at his office and said he could not take responsibility for anything others may have said.