KMC Sends Show-Cause Notice to Officials Over Cancellation of Vishwakarma Puja Holiday
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Synopsis
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation issued a show-cause notice to a senior education official for canceling the Vishwakarma Puja holiday while announcing two days of Eid leave, stirring controversy and criticism from political figures about the potential insensitivity to local traditions.
Key Takeaways
- KMC issued a show-cause notice to an official.
- Cancellation of Vishwakarma Puja holiday raised concerns.
- Two-day Eid holidays announced in schools.
- Backlash from political figures regarding the decision.
- Response to the notice required within three working days.
Kolkata, Feb 26 (NationPress) The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has issued a show-cause notice to a senior official from its Education Department for allegedly canceling the Vishwakarma Puja holiday and instead announcing a two-day leave for Eid in schools.
The notice targets Siddhartha Sankar Dhara, the Chief Manager (Education) of KMC, with the Municipal Commissioner Dhaval Jain as the issuer.
According to the notice, Dhara is accused of changing the holiday schedule for JMCP schools without the necessary approval from higher authorities.
“Your issuance of a notice modifying the holiday list does not comply with the officially declared list and is regarded as an inappropriate action that promotes misinformation,” the show-cause notice stated.
The Municipal Commissioner has also instructed Dhara to provide a response within three working days, explaining why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. Notably, the notice did not mention the Eid and Vishwakarma Puja occasions specifically.
KMC insiders indicated that the decision on any further action will depend on Dhara's response.
Following the announcement of the two-day Eid holidays and the cancellation of the Vishwakarma Puja leave, KMC faced significant backlash.
BJP State General Secretary Jagannath Chattopadhyay stated in a video that this decision has offended the sentiments of traditional Hindu Bengalis in the state.
“What can we expect from the Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who refers to his constituency as 'mini-Pakistan' and encourages his community to increase their population to become the majority? Such behavior is unsurprising from a mayor backed by a Chief Minister who recently dismissed the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh as 'Mrityu Kumbh'. While the entire nation observes a single day for Eid, KMC under Hakim extends the holiday to two days,” Chattopadhyay remarked.
