Kolkata, Oct. 3 -- While declaring that West Bengal would become the third state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday announced a Rs 150-crore festive bonanza for Durga Puja, with flour, sugar and suji to be sold at a 50 per cent discount.

Speaking at Nabanna, Adhikari said: "We have decided to give flour, sugar, and suji at half price to two crore families. They will get a 50 per cent subsidy."

Under the festival package, each eligible family will receive 1 kg of flour at Rs 19, 1 kg of sugar at Rs 30 and 500 grams of semolina (suji). According to the Chief Minister, the tender for flour and sugar is complete, while the suji tender is in process. Distribution will happen through the rationing system.

In response to a media question about Gujarat being on the verge of implementing the UCC after the President Droupadi Murmu assented to the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, paving the way for Gujarat to become the second state after Uttarakhand to implement a codified common set of personal laws, Adhikari said that West Bengal will be the third state to implement UCC.

Regarding rationing, the Chief Minister also added that during the Durga Puja week, more than eight crore people in the state will get these items at a 50 per cent discount. The state government will bear the remaining 50 per cent of the cost.

The West Bengal government will provide these items to more than two crore ration card-holding families during Durga Puja.

Meanwhile, Adhikari on Saturday said the state government would launch a fresh inquiry into what he described as Mamata Banerjee's "false claims" of suffering a leg injury during the 2021 Assembly election campaign.

Addressing the Press conference, Adhikari claimed Banerjee had faked her injury during the elections. "Mamata Banerjee faked her leg injury during campaigning in Nandigram in 2021. We have the medical report which stated that there was no evidence of fracture or dislocation. We will initiate an investigation into the matter," Adhikari said, while displaying Banerjee's medical report issued by the Bangur Institute of Neuroscience.

"Her false allegation insulted the people of Nandigram. I will come out with more details after the MCC (model code of conduct) is lifted after October 9... Today, I am saying this in support of my claims made yesterday," Adhikari said.

Adhikari had made the claim while addressing a rally at Birulia Bazaar in Nandigram II development block on Friday, the same location where Banerjee had sustained her injury five years ago. Banerjee, the then CM, had sustained injuries to her left leg and waist in Reyapara area of Birulia in Nandigram on March 10, 2021, during her election campaign.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.