West Bengal CM Criticizes Central Government for Removing Christmas as a National Holiday
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Kolkata, Dec 20 (NationPress) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticized the Union government for removing Christmas from the list of national holidays.
"Earlier, Christmas was acknowledged as a national holiday. However, the current Union government has abolished it. Here in West Bengal, we haven't eliminated any holidays. Instead, we've expanded the number of scheduled holidays. Everyone wishes to celebrate the day with their loved ones. We honor all religious celebrations," the Chief Minister stated during the event "Kolkata Christmas Inauguration" at Allen Park in Kolkata.
While addressing the occasion, Banerjee also launched a fierce critique against the BJP concerning the remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah about B.R. Ambedkar.
“I was genuinely taken aback by the comments regarding Ambedkar," she remarked.
Later that evening, while speaking at a Christmas gathering organized by St. Xavier's College, a renowned institution in Kolkata, the Chief Minister reiterated her criticisms of the BJP regarding both the comments about Ambedkar and the removal of Christmas from the list of national holidays.
"I firmly believe that while religion is a personal matter, festivals are universal. That is why I have proclaimed holidays for religious events. In a nation like India, we cannot impose a singular path or lifestyle. Unity in diversity is the essence of Indian philosophy," the Chief Minister explained.
Banerjee noted on Wednesday that as the Indian Parliament commemorated 75 years of the Constitution, the Union Home Minister chose to mar this significant occasion with disrespectful remarks against Ambedkar, and that "too in the temple of democracy."
"This represents the BJP’s CASTEIST and ANTI-DALIT mindset. If this is their conduct after being reduced to 240 seats, imagine the damage they would have caused if their aspiration of securing 400 seats had come true. They would have rewritten history to completely erase Ambedkar’s contributions," the Chief Minister added.
