West Bengal govt to give ₹5 crore to 60 Rath Yatra committees: CM Suvendu Adhikari

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. File Photo: @lokbhavan_wb X/ANI Photo

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said his government will give ₹5,000 each to 60 Rath Yatra committees in the state on Monday (July 13, 2026). The Supreme Leader also announced many other religious programs and benefits.

“Rath Yatras who have been here for decades, 60 such Rath Yatra Committees will get ₹ 5 lakh each today… In the first year, if there is any mistake in compiling the list, please forgive us, let the administration know, we will make a mistake-free list in the coming years,” added Mr. Adhikari.

Kanwar yatris who embark on their religious journey during the Monsoon (Sravan) season will also have ‘Seva Camps’ on their journey at every 5 km intervals. “We are doing work worth ₹15 crore at Tarakeshwar Dham,” Mr. Adhikari said. He also added that there will be three types of camps, police relief camp, refreshment camp and health camps will be set up.

The CM also said that they have kept a provision in this year’s state budget for a ‘Tirtha Khetra Circut’ which will help develop and modernize historic temples, the math (spiritual centre) of the state, including the Kiriteswari Shaktipeeth temple in Murshidabad district.

He added that the work will continue for the next two years and that ₹1,000 crore has already been sanctioned for the work in 2026.

“Ancient temples that have heritage and history, we have taken the initiative to revive and rebuild them to their former glory and bring them under heritage auspices,” the CM added.

In particular, Mr Adhikari criticized the previous Trinamool Congress government’s decision to give money to more than 45,000 Durga Puja committees across the state before targeting the payment of devotional allowance arrears of state government employees.

Before they came to power, minister and senior BJP leader Agnimitra Paul also termed Mamata Banerjee’s decision to give money to Durga Puja committees as “politics of religion” and the Trinamool government’s lack of focus on development.

Earlier in June 2026, Mr. Adhikari hinted that they may continue to financially support Durga Pujas, but big-budget pujas may not get a monetary benefit and mines may become “need-based”.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 08:10 IST