Explorer

Fact Check: Amit Shah's Claim That Mamata Govt Does Not Give Holiday For Durga Puja Is False 

Amit Shah Speech Fact Check: BOOM found that the West Bengal government grants holidays not only for Durga Puja but for other religious occasions as well. 

Fact Check: Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently said, at an election speech in West Bengal's Serampore, accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of "discrimination" as he said she refuses to grant government holidays for Durga Puja but gives holidays to Muslims during Ramzan. Here is a fact-check of his statement. 

Shah’s claim is false. BOOM found that the West Bengal government grants holidays not only for Durga Puja but for other religious occasions as well.

At the 18:14 timestamp, Shah states, “[Mamata Banerjee] opposes the Ram Mandir. She does not give permission for Durga Visarjan but gives holidays for Muslim workers on Ramzan. We do not have a problem with that, give holidays if you wish. But we want an answer as to why you don’t grant holidays for our Durga Puja as well? Why this discrimination?”

This is not the first time Shah or a leader from the ruling regime has made communally charged statements. Previously, in Chhattisgarh, Shah misleadingly accused the Congress party of including wealth redistribution statements to Muslim communities in their manifesto. Similarly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Rajasthan, claimed that the Congress party would conduct a comprehensive survey of all assets in the country, including the gold owned by women, with the intention of redistributing assets equally among the Muslim community. However, BOOM found that the manifesto only suggests a need for policy assessment rather than outlining specific wealth redistribution plans.

FACT CHECK

To verify the claim, BOOM checked the West Bengal government’s Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department and found that holidays are granted not only for Durga Puja but for other religious occasions as well.

As per the official website of the finance department, public holidays fall under two lists: List-I (Public Holidays in 2024 under the N. I. Act) and List-II (Holidays under the order of State Government in 2024).

As per List-I, in 2024, there are government holidays for Durga Puja, Maha Saptami on October 10 (Thursday), Durga Puja, Maha Astami and Maha Nabam on October 11 (Friday) and Durga Puja, Dasami on October 12 (Saturday).


Fact Check: Amit Shah's Claim That Mamata Govt Does Not Give Holiday For Durga Puja Is False 

In List- II, holidays are granted under the order of the state government. Under this list, Durga Puja holidays are between October 7 and 9 and additional holidays are granted on October 14 and 15.


Fact Check: Amit Shah's Claim That Mamata Govt Does Not Give Holiday For Durga Puja Is False 

Moreover, the notification also states that “the offices under the Government of West Bengal with the exception of the offices of the Registrar of Assurances, Kolkata and Collector of the Stamp Revenue, Kolkata shall be closed on the days as specified at List II below which are not declared to be public holidays, during the year 2024.”


Aside from these, the West Bengal government follows public holidays that include Good Friday, Eid-UI-Fitr, Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid), Muharram and Christmas.

In 2017, the dates of Durga immersion and Muharram had coincided. The West Bengal government had disallowed Durga immersion on the day of Muharram, despite the state's High Court ruling that allowed both the immersion and the Muharram procession to take place on the same day, provided they followed different routes and ensured peace.

"On Vijaya Dashami, immersion has to end by 6 PM as Muhurram processions will be taken out after that. If both happen together at the same time, there may be problems. I am seeking your cooperation on this. Some people will try to bank on this opportunity and create all kinds of provocation, using Hindus and Muslims as tools," India Today quoted Banerjee saying. Further, in a tweet she said, "Except for a 24-hour period on the day of Muharram, immersions can take place on October 2, 3 and 4."

India Today further reported that even in 2016, the West Bengal government had issued restrictions on idol immersion, with Vijaya Dashami being celebrated just a day ahead of Muharram.

This story was originally published by Boom as part of the Shakti Collective. Except for the headline, excerpt, and the opening introduction para, this story has not been edited by ABPLIVE staff.  

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FACT-CHECK REPORTS ON MISINFORMATION RELATED TO ELECTIONS 2024

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

NEET-UG Results: 'Paper Sold For Rs 60 Cr, Centre Fixing, Rs 10 Lakhs To Clear Exam'—A Look At Cases In Court
NEET-UG Results: 'Paper Sold For Rs 60 Cr, Centre Fixing, Rs 10 Lakhs To Clear Exam'—A Look At Cases In Court
'Modi, Shah Will Break TDP, JD(U), LJP If...': Sanjay Raut's Big Claim Over Speaker Post, KC Tyagi Reacts
'Modi, Shah Will Break TDP, JD(U), LJP If...': Sanjay Raut's Big Claim Over Speaker Post, KC Tyagi Reacts
Amit Shah Chairs Meeting To Review Security Situation In J&K. NSA Doval, LG Manoj Sinha Attend
Amit Shah Chairs Meeting To Review Security Situation In J&K. NSA Doval, LG Manoj Sinha Attend
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Holds 2 'Closed-Door' Meetings With UP CM Adityanath: Report
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Holds 2 'Closed-Door' Meetings With UP CM Adityanath: Report
Advertisement
metaverse

Videos

Breaking News: Massive Fire Erupts At Pipe Warehouse In Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh | ABP NewsIndo-China Relation: Four Years Of Galwan Clash, Take A Look Back At The Series Of Action | ABP NewsBreaking News: Major Accident In Patna On Ganga Dussehra, 6 People Go Missing As Boat DrownsBreaking News: Amit Shah Holds Key Meeting With Officials To Review Terror Situation In J&K | ABP News

Photo Gallery

Embed widget