Kolkata, June 18 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday sharply criticised the BJP-led central government’s decision to observe ‘Bangla Diwas’ (Bengal Day) on June 20 across the country, calling it an imposition and a serious insult to the people of Bengal.
She was reacting to a letter sent by the Special Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to the West Bengal Information and Culture Department, proposing that June 20 be observed as Bangla Diwas at Uttar Pradesh Raj Bhawan.
“This day will be observed as Bangla Diwas at all Raj Bhawans across the country. I just want to ask who are they to decide the date? Why will they observe this day?” Mamata Banerjee questioned sharply during a press conference.
“You all know that we have passed a legislation in the assembly that ‘Poila Boishakh’ will be observed as official ‘Poschimbongo Diwas.’ Now they have decided to do everything according to their wish,” she added.
Delving into the historical context, the Chief Minister said June 20, 1947, marks the date when it was decided that West Bengal would remain with India while East Bengal would go to Pakistan.
“That was before independence and why should we give importance to that date. They (read BJP) cannot do everything according to their own will. I consider this a grave insult to Bengal,” Mamata Banerjee said.
This clash is part of an ongoing dispute between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress over the official observance of West Bengal’s foundation day.
In September 2023, the state government declared Poila Boishakh — the Bengali New Year — as ‘Poschimbongo Diwas,’ a move spearheaded by Mamata Banerjee to assert cultural autonomy and counter the BJP’s push to mark June 20 as West Bengal Day.
Interestingly enough, BJP MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, marked June 20 as ‘Poschimbongo Diwas’ outside the Assembly in 2023. According to the BJP, the date carries historical weight, commemorating the Bengal Legislative Assembly’s decision in 1947 to partition Bengal and keep West Bengal within India — a decision they attribute largely to the efforts of Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
Despite Mamata Banerjee’s request not to commemorate June 20, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose held a programme at Raj Bhavan on the day last year. In response, the state cabinet convened and officially designated Poila Boishakh as the state’s foundation day. A special session of the Assembly later passed a resolution to this effect, with the BJP voting against it.
Though 2024 marked the first official observance of Poila Boishakh as ‘Poschimbongo Diwas,’ the celebrations were subdued due to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and the Model Code of Conduct. Still, the state government observed the occasion in a limited manner.
This year, the state government organised a series of cultural programmes throughout the day at Rabindra Sadan’s Ektaara Open Stage to celebrate Bengali heritage. In the evening, a cultural event was held at the Rabindra Sadan auditorium, featuring performances by popular artists and attended by Minister of State for Information and Culture, Indranil Sen. Similar celebrations were organised across districts by the Information and Culture Department.
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