Mamata Govt Faces Backlash After Cancelling Vishwakarma Puja Holiday, Extending Eid-ul-Fitr festival in WB.

BJP Accuses Mamata Govt of ‘Muslim Appeasement’ After Vishwakarma Puja Holiday Cancelled, as if in an ‘Islamic Caliphate’.

Upaendra Bharti | HENB | Kolkata | Feb 27, 2025:: Amit Malviya, the BJP IT cell head, has slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s (KMC) decision to cancel the Vishwakama Puja holiday and extend the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday instead. Malviya accused the Trinamool Congress government of appeasement politics, saying it reflects Banerjee’s “anti-OBC mindset” and her nervousness about losing the Muslim vote bank .

The controversy began when the KMC issued a notice revising the holiday list for Hindi-medium schools, scrapping the Vishwakama Puja holiday and extending the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday from one to two days. However, after facing backlash, the KMC issued a corrigendum, cancelling the earlier notification due to “typographical errors and procedural lapses”.

Malviya took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his outrage, saying, “Welcome to Mamata Banerjee’s Islamic Caliphate of West Bengal.” He also criticized the decision, stating that it deprives Hindus of their rightful observances and hurts Muslims who will lose a day’s wages due to the extended holiday.

Malviya said the move expressed “Mamata Banerjee’s anti-OBC mindset” and confirmed her nervousness. “She knows the Muslim vote bank she once took for granted is slipping, even in the Greater Kolkata Region. What she doesn’t understand is that Muslims don’t need endless holidays—they need education and employment. An additional day off means a loss of daily wages for Muslims, most of whom work as casual labourers in Bengal. It also deprives Hindus of their rightful observances. Mamata Banerjee’s Muslim appeasement is destroying West Bengal’s social fabric,” Malviya said.

On February 25, KMC issued a memorandum (Memo No. 025/KMC/Edn/2025) revising the holiday list for its Hindi-medium schools, scrapping the holiday for Vishwakarma Puja and extending the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday from one day to two.

The repeated attacks on Hindu religious rights in West Bengal, including the curtailment of Durga Puja celebrations and the cancellation of Vishwakarma Puja holiday, have sparked widespread outrage and resentment among Hindus. Many quarters, including opposition parties, Hindu organizations, and civil society groups, have condemned these moves as an assault on Hindu religious freedoms and cultural heritage. The incidents have also raised concerns about the erosion of Hindu rights and the appeasement of minority communities at the expense of the majority.

However, after facing backlash, the civic body issued a corrigendum (Memo No. 026/KMC/Edn/2025) on February 26, cancelling the earlier notification, citing “typographical errors and procedural lapses”.

The controversial notice, issued by chief manager of the KMC education department Siddhartha Shankar Dhara on Tuesday, stated, “In partial notification of the existing Holiday List 2025 for Hindi Medium KMCP Schools are hereby informed that the rectifications in the holiday are as follows: 1. Eid-ul-Fitar holiday will be for two days from 31.03.2025 to 01.04.2025. 2. There will be no holiday for Biswakarma Puja on 17.09.2025 as one day from its allocated holiday has been adjusted to extend the Eid-ul-Fitar holiday.”

Later, KMC Municipal Commissioner Dhaval Jain said in a statement, “It has come to the notice of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) that a memorandum (Memo No. 025/KMC/Edn/2025, dated 25.02.2025) regarding the holiday list for Hindi Medium KMCP Schools was issued without obtaining any concurrence from the competent authority of KМС.”

He elaborated, “A Corrigendum (Memo No. 026/KMC/Edn/2025, dated 25.02.2025) was issued immediately cancelling the original memorandum that had typographical mistakes. KMC clarifies that the original memorandum (Memo No. 025/KMC/Edn/2025, dated 25.02.2025) stands cancelled as it was issued without KMC authority’s permission.”

Mr Jain added, “The matter has been taken seriously, and necessary action is being initiated against the officer responsible for this lapse. A revised and accurate order will be issued in due course maintaining the State Government’s Holiday List as per extant norm. We request everyone to refrain from any speculation or spreading any misinformation.”

Mr Jain also served Mr Dhara a showcause notice which stated, “Whereas your issuing notice altering the list of holidays is not in alignment with the declared list of holidays of this Corporation is treated as an undesirable act leading to spreading misinformation.” Mr Dhara has been asked to submit his explanation within three days.

Earlier, the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has  faced criticism for allegedly curtailing the span of Durga Puja celebrations to accommodate Muharram processions. This move was seen as hurting Hindu sentiments, particularly during Vijaya Dashami, which marks the culmination of the Durga Puja festival.

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__Inputs from Agencies.