Mamata pledges recognition for 700 unaided madrasas in Bengal this year | Watch

• West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announces Rs 500 monthly allowance increase for both Muslim clerics (imams) and Hindu priests during a conference
• Banerjee pledges recognition for 700 unaided madrasas, in addition to the previously recognized 300, as a part of her commitment to inclusive development
• Move comes amidst rising competition from Indian Secular Front (ISF) and criticism from opposition over appeasement politics and vote bank strategies

West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, announced a Rs 500 increase in the monthly allowance for both Muslim clerics (imams) and Hindu priests during a conference of imams and muezzins at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor stadium. Currently, imams receive Rs 2,500 per month, while muezzins receive Rs 1,000 per month.

Banerjee also pledged recognition for 700 unaided madrasas in the state, in addition to the 300 that were already recognized. She emphasized her commitment to religious harmony and stated her intention to remove Prime Minister Modi from power. The TMC supremo also reiterated her commitment to dislodge the BJP from power at the centre and outlined, “Modiji will stay for six months only. We will do whatever is needed to remove him. I am with INDIA (a bloc of several opposition parties)."

The move comes amid rising competition from the Indian Secular Front (ISF) among the minority community and accusations of appeasement politics from opposition parties. During the event, several leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) were present, including state minister Firhad Hakim.