Kolkata: “Why is 25 December not a holiday? What was the logic of the decision? If there is logic, I am willing to listen. If there is none, then I have to suspect some motive,” Mamata Banerjee said.
Flagging off Christmas celebrations in Kolkata Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Centre must restore Christmas as a national holiday and accused it of keeping Bengal out of Republic Day parade because Bengal’s proposed theme for the state’s tableaux was communal harmony.
“This year, our proposed them was ‘communal harmony’, our officials went to two meetings, agreed to all suggestions but then we haven’t got called to any more meetings,” Ms Banerjee said.
At the Christmas event attended by several archbishops, priests and nuns, Ms Banerjee attacked the Narendra Modi government for banishing Christmas from the list of national holidays. Christmas was declared “good governance day” by the Centre in 2014.
“If any community is hurt, I am hurt,” Ms Banerjee said. “Why is 25 December not a holiday? What was the logic of the decision? If there is logic, I am willing to listen. If there is none, then I have to suspect some motive,” she added.
“If someone tells me, no holiday for Durga Puja, will I agree?” she said.