West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has dismissed allegations that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) cancelled holidays for Vishwakarma Puja, calling them “false and politically motivated.” The controversy erupted after a KMC notice declared a two-day holiday for Eid but allegedly cancelled the Vishwakarma Puja holiday, leading to widespread criticism and the suspension of Chief Manager Siddharth Shankar Dhar.

Details & Context

1. What Happened.?

   - The KMC’s education department issued a notice on Tuesday, announcing a two-day holiday for Eid (March 31 and April 1) for Hindi-medium schools.

   - The notice also stated that the holiday for Vishwakarma Puja would be cancelled and merged with the Eid holidays.

2. Public Outrage

   - The decision sparked immediate backlash with opposition parties accusing the KMC of favouring one community over another.

   - Social media was flooded with criticism and the issue quickly became a political flashpoint.

3. Mamata Banerjee’s Response

   - At a Trinamool Congress workers meeting at Netaji Indoor Stadium Mamata Banerjee clarified, “Vishwakarma Puja is a half-day holiday in the government calendar but schools remain closed. An officer made a mistake and he has been suspended. No holiday was cancelled. These are lies spread by BJP leaders.”

4. Suspension of KMC Official

   - Siddharth Shankar Dhar, Chief Manager of the KMC’s education department was suspended for issuing the controversial notice without proper authorisation.

   - The KMC later issued a revised notice calling the earlier one a “typographical error” and reinstating the Vishwakarma Puja holiday.

5. Political Fallout

   - The BJP accused the Trinamool Congress of playing divisive politics while the TMC blamed the controversy on administrative oversight.

   - The incident has reignited debates about religious holidays and administrative transparency in West Bengal.

Quotes

- Mamata Banerjee: “No holiday was cancelled. It’s a lie spread by BJP leaders. The officer responsible has been suspended.”

- A KMC official: “The notice was issued without proper authorisation. It was a mistake and corrective action has been taken.”

Additional Information

- The KMC has assured that all holidays including Vishwakarma Puja will be observed as per the government calendar.

- The incident has raised questions about the efficiency and accountability of the KMC’s administrative processes.

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Impact Analysis

- The controversy has highlighted the sensitivity of religious holidays in a diverse state like West Bengal.

- It could lead to stricter protocols for issuing official notices and greater scrutiny of administrative decisions.

As the dust settles on the Vishwakarma Puja holiday controversy, the focus shifts to ensuring such administrative errors do not recur. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.