Murshidabad: Harmony fund set up for riot victims as BJP ramps up Hindutva pitch

Trinamool Congress’s Jangipur MP Khalilur Rahman told The Federal, “Local public and bidi manufacturers of the violence-hit areas joined hands with elected representatives to contribute the fund to help the victims, who lost their houses and businesses in recent rioting.”

This is in addition to the help promised by the state government, he said, adding that it will help them at least start the "rebuilding process".

Earlier, Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had announced that her government would provide houses to those whose dwellings were destroyed. Besides, the government is also doing loss assessment to compensate the shopkeepers hit in the communal violence over Waqf law on April 11 and 12.

Crowdfund raised

“A crowdfund of Rs 4 crore has been raised so far to supplement the rehabilitation process initiated by the government. Already, around 400 families have been given financial assistance,” said Samserganj MLA Amirul Islam.

Also read: Murshidabad violence: 5 more held for rioting, total arrests now at 307

Victims told The Federal over the phone that they got help from the “public fund” created by the local Muslim residents.

Chittaranjan Pal’s grocery shop at Saha Para area of Dhulian Municipality’s ward no 16 was vandalised by some unidentified miscreants during the violence. Ward numbers 16, 14, 7 and 3 of the municipality were among the worst affected areas along with Samserganj’s Jafrabad and Bedbona and Jangipur sub-division’s Suti.

Pal said the money he received from the crowdfund would be of great help to restart his business.

Two other beneficiaries, Pratima Saha and Pintu Saha of Dhulian, claimed to have received Rs 2 lakh each to rebuild their houses destroyed in the riot.

Blunt BJP's initiative

A few local families even separately provided help to their affected neighbours.

The Noor family of Dhulian donated a refrigerator to Rabindranath Pal, a resident of Kadamtala area of ward 16.

The refrigerator in Pal’s shop was damaged during the April 11 violence. The family also gave a new bicycle to Bharat Rajat, as his cycle was damaged when he was caught in the violence in Dhulian on April 12. Rajat is a resident of Ward no 5.

Also read: 109 houses damaged in Murshidabad riots: Bengal government survey

The community aid initiative is believed to be the idea of TMC’s Jangipur MP Khalilur Rahman, Samserganj MLA Amirul Islam, Sagardighi MLA Bayron Biswas and Farakka MLA Manirul Islam.

Manirul’s house was also attacked during the violence.

The drive is part of their attempt to promote a shared sense of community to blunt the BJP’s “divisive narrative”.

“Our only intention is to restore the communal harmony that has prevailed in the area for centuries. People from all communities have supported the fund raising. Neither the religious nor the political affiliation matters while extending assistance,” Samserganj MLA said.

Financial support from BJP

Financial support was also provided to the family members of Izaz Ahmed Sheikh, who died in the firing by security forces in Suti.

Kins of father and son duo Hargobind Das and Chandan Das, who were hacked to death, reportedly refused to accept any financial support from the “ruling dispensation”.

They earlier turned down the compensation offered by the state government. An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh was announced for the families of three who died during the rioting.

“Will the money bring back my husband and father-in-law? They would have been alive today if the police had acted on time,” Chandan Das’s wife recently told the media.

Also read: Murshidabad riots: NCW chief urges Bengal govt to address 'pains of people'

The family, however, received the Rs 20 lakh the BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari offered on Saturday (April 26).

“I extended some financial support, made a commitment to cover the educational expenses of their children, and assured them of our continued support. The family had earlier declined financial assistance from the anti-Hindu state government, which they felt did not align with their values. Today, it is evident that the Hindu community stands together in solidarity. In times of hardship, we, as Hindus, pledge to support one another with unwavering unity,” Adhikari posted in his X handle.

He also embedded copies of the two cheques of Rs 10 lakh each with his post.

Divisive compensation model

Earlier, Adhikari had suggested that the money would be “recovered with 12 per cent interest from rioters” to compensate the victims once the BJP comes to power in Bengal.

Also read: Stay united against ‘vicious false campaign’ by BJP-RSS in Bengal: Mamata

The divisive model of recovering the cost of damages of the violence prescribed by the BJP is in sharp contrast to the new precedent set by the local residents, mostly minorities, of the riot-affected areas.

“If politics can be kept out of the initiative, it will go a long way in providing the healing touch to the victims, and bridge the communal rift created by the violence,” said Kolkata-based political commentator Md Saduddin, who is a native of Murshidabad.