Mamata's Selective Secularism Exposed: Vishwakarma Puja Holiday Scrapped to Extend Eid Leave

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has once again exposed her brand of selective secularism, where appeasement overrides cultural balance. After calling Maha Kumbh, a ‘Mrityu Kumbh, her government’s decision to scrap the Vishwakarma Puja holiday in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) schools and extend Eid leave from one to two days is yet another glaring example of her government’s bias. This isn’t just an administrative decision—it is a brazen attack on Hindu traditions, particularly disenfranchising the OBC community, which holds Vishwakarma Puja in high regard.

Mamata often positions herself as a leader of equality and inclusivity, but her actions tell a different story. Under her rule, Hindu festivals are routinely downgraded or overlooked, while minority-centric policies are aggressively pushed to keep her vote bank intact. This pattern of governance isn’t just unfair—it is deeply divisive and discriminatory. If secularism means equal respect for all religions, why does Mamata’s government only bend over backwards for one community while consistently erasing or undermining Hindu traditions?

This isn’t an isolated case. West Bengal has increasingly turned into a political battleground for religious appeasement, with policies dictated by electoral convenience rather than governance principles. From blocking Durga idol immersions on Muharram in the past to prioritizing Muslim votes in welfare schemes, Mamata’s appeasement-first approach is systematically altering the socio-cultural fabric of Bengal.

Her controversial decision has triggered a massive political storm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slamming Mamata’s appeasement-driven governance.

Mamata’s ‘Islamic Caliphate’

Leading the charge, BJP leader Amit Malviya lashed out at Mamata Banerjee’s government, calling it a direct assault on Hindu traditions. In a post on X, Malviya wrote, "Welcome to Mamata Banerjee's Islamic Caliphate of West Bengal." He accused the TMC of continuously undermining Hindu customs while pandering to the Muslim vote bank.

Malviya reminded the public of Mamata’s earlier move to slash OBC reservations and include Muslims under the quota, a decision struck down by the Calcutta High Court and now under review in the Supreme Court. "The BJP will ensure justice as per constitutional provisions," he asserted.

Vishwakarma Puja Sacrificed for Vote Bank Politics?

Firing another salvo, Malviya condemned the scrapping of the Vishwakarma Puja holiday, an occasion for Hindus, especially the OBC community. He compared Firhad Hakim, a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, to Suhrawardy, the man responsible for the Direct Action Day riots in Bengal in 1946, and blamed him for ordering the cancellation of the holiday.

"This exposes Mamata Banerjee's anti-OBC mindset and confirms her nervousness. She knows the Muslim vote bank she once took for granted is slipping, even in the Greater Kolkata Region," Malviya said, adding that such moves were nothing but desperate attempts to hold onto Muslim votes.

Economic Toll on Muslims? BJP Counters Mamata’s ‘Misplaced Priorities’

Malviya also pointed out how Mamata’s policies were not just anti-Hindu but also detrimental to Muslims, arguing that additional holidays did nothing for their welfare.

"What she doesn't understand is that Muslims don't need endless holidays—they need education and employment. An extra day off means a loss of daily wages for Muslims, most of whom work as casual laborers in Bengal. It also deprives Hindus of their rightful observances," he stated.

The BJP leader didn’t hold back in warning about the long-term damage Mamata’s appeasement politics could inflict on West Bengal’s cultural identity.

"Mamata Banerjee's Muslim appeasement is destroying West Bengal's social fabric. If she continues in office, in a few years, it will be difficult to recognize whether our Bengal is still the land of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, Netaji, and Syama Prasad Mookerjee," he cautioned.

KMC on Backfoot

Facing backlash over its holiday list notification, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has gone on the defensive, clarifying that the decision regarding Hindi Medium KMCP Schools was issued without proper approval from the competent authority.

In an attempt to control the damage, KMC issued a corrigendum (Memo No. 026/KMC/Edn/2025, dated February 25, 2025), cancelling the earlier notification (Memo No. 025/KMC/Edn/2025, issued on the same day) and attributing the error to typographical mistakes and procedural lapses.

The civic body stated that it is taking the matter seriously and has initiated appropriate action against the officer responsible for the oversight.

KMC assured that a revised holiday list will be released, ensuring it aligns with the State Government’s official holiday schedule and existing norms.

The sudden retraction, however, raises serious questions about governance and decision-making within the civic administration, further fueling concerns over politically motivated policy shifts in the state.