Kolkata: The BJP on Wednesday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee`s announcement of sops to imams and said no government could provide allowances to any religious leader of any community.

"This is nothing, but bribery to secure Muslim votes in the coming panchayat elections," state party president Rahul Sinha said. "Waqf Board cannot be given public money by the state government for payment of allowances to imams," Sinha said after a protest rally from College Square to Gandhi statue. The chief minister had on April three announced payment of honorarium of Rs 2,500 per month through the Wakf Board to 30,000 imams in the state.
PTI