Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in Bengal has announced bonus for Muslim government employees ahead of next month’s Eid. Nobanno, the state secretariat has announced Rs 4,000 each for all Muslim employees of the government.

The Mamata government has issued a notification announcing the Eid bonus. The notification states that all Muslim employees who earn up to Rs 30,000 per month can get this Eid bonus.

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Last year, the bonus was Rs 3,600. But this Eid, chief minister Mamata has increased it by Rs 400. All for those government employees belonging to the minority community and earn in the bracket of Rs 30,000 to Rs 36,000 are eligible to take an advance of Rs 8,000 before Eid, thanks to the Mamata government.

This move comes days after Mamata made a politically unsound remark, comparing Trinamool’s Muslim vote bank to “milch cow”. While announcing that she would be attending an Iftar (breaking of fast during the holy month of Ramzan), she had said, “Since I appease Muslims, I shall attend it (Iftar) 100 times. If a cow yields milk, one must be prepared to face its kick.”

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This move by Mamata only bolsters the narrative of the BJP that she appeases Muslims with her eye on electoral benefit. And needless to say in a highly polarised state as Bengal where every issue has a potential to turn controversial, this move by Mamata is nothing short of dishing out an opportunity on a platter to the BJP.

The alleged Muslim appeasement, which led to Hindu alienation conversely and her drubbing at the hands of newcomers to the state, the BJP, her recent move cut the wrong way on all sides.