As many as 23,000 certificates issued under CAA, 2.3 lakh applications made says WB CM

Opposition parties seized on the disbursement of cash under the West Bengal government's Annapurna Bhandar scheme to criticize the Suvendu Adhikari administration. Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee exploited the situation on Monday, August 24, 2026, to attack the Bharatiya Janata Party government. She questioned the eligibility criteria for the money and accused the BJP of discriminating against women based on caste and religion by denying them the ₹3,000 monthly benefits.

Earlier in the week, women had protested across the state, alleging they had been denied the scheme's financial support.

Mamata Banerjee, who launched the cash transfer scheme for women in 2021, vowed to support those who were being deprived of the benefits. She requested the BJP to release the names of the beneficiaries who have been denied the funds, promising to investigate and rectify the issue. Banerjee emphasized that her commitment to the women of West Bengal would not waver, stating that her fight would continue until the BJP was forced into political retirement.

Responding to Banerjee's allegations, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari defended the scheme's disbursement process, claiming that 1.45 crore beneficiaries had received Annapurna Yojana funds. He attempted to refute claims that certain groups, especially Muslims, were being excluded from the scheme's benefits, stating that approximately 19.20 lakh Muslims had received the ₹3,000 monthly payments.

Adhikari also assured that anyone eligible, regardless of their religion or political affiliation, had received the benefits under the scheme. He further announced the creation of an online portal for individuals to lodge complaints about denied benefits or if they knew anyone who was undeserving of the scheme's financial assistance.