NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday accused the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of considering only Muslims as a minority community, asserting that Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains also qualify as religious minorities.Adhikari made the remarks during a visit to Gurdwara Bara Sikh Sangat in Burrabazar, Kolkata’s trading hub. He greeted members of the Sikh community at the gurdwara and also participated in a procession organised by the community in the area, PTI reported.
Addressing reporters after meeting members of the Sikh community, Adhikari said the term minority should not be associated with just one religious group. He alleged that the previous government, led by Mamata Banerjee, had failed to recognise other religious communities as minorities.“Minority does not mean a particular community. Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains are also (religious) minorities. The previous TMC government considered only Muslims as a minority,” the chief minister told reporters.Adhikari also praised the Sikh community, describing its members as patriots.“They (Sikhs) are the truest patriots,” the chief minister said.The remarks come against the backdrop of Adhikari’s repeated allegations that the previous TMC government pursued a policy of appeasement towards the Muslim community to secure its electoral support. He has previously accused the Mamata Banerjee-led administration of favouring the community for political gains.