Bengal BJP Chief Urges Mamata Banerjee to Declare January 22 as Ram Temple Dedication Holiday

Sukanta Majumdar, the head of the Bengal BJP, wrote to Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister, on Friday, asking her to designate January 22 as a holiday so that people may take part in the celebrations commemorating the dedication of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

For all Indians, the dedication of the Ram temple is a day of pride. I humbly ask that you proclaim the day a holiday in my capacity as the state's administrative leader so that everyone may participate in the festivities on this holy day. The letter said, "This request is made to both government and non-government entities."

Additionally, Majumdar requested that Mamata keep the day's institutions and schools closed.

In order to allow its staff to attend religious ceremonies and witness the temple dedication in Ayodhya live on television, the Center has scheduled a half-day vacation for all of its locations on January 22. On Monday, central government offices will open for business at 2:30 p.m.

States under BJP government, including Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and Haryana, have set January 22 as a holiday. Even Odisha, governed by the BJD, has done the same.

Numerous political commentators have called the Center's move to withdraw the order and said it violates the secular ideals contained in the Constitution by declaring a holiday to commemorate the temple dedication. Prasenjit Bose, an economist and political activist, has questioned how the government could announce a holiday for an event that a private trust is putting on.

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