The Chief Minister stated during a visit to a Kolkata gurdwara that Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains also qualify as religious minorities.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday alleged that the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government recognised only Muslims as a minority community. Adhikari made these claims while visiting the Gurdwara Bara Sikh Sangat in the Burrabazar area of Kolkata, according to reports by The Times of India and Deccan Herald.
Speaking to the media after meeting with the Sikh community, Adhikari said that the label of minority should not be limited to a single religious group. He stated that Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains are also religious minorities, but claimed the previous administration led by Mamata Banerjee failed to acknowledge them.
The Chief Minister participated in a procession organised by the Sikh community in the trading hub during his visit. He also described members of the Sikh community as the truest patriots.
Adhikari has previously alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led government practiced appeasement of the Muslim community to secure electoral support. He has claimed the administration favoured the community for political reasons.
