Why Jesus Christ's birthday not national holiday?: Mamata Banerjee slams BJP on secularism

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hit out at BJP-led government at Centre saying it is only bent on dividing country and has cancelled public holidays on festivals like Christmas. Inaugurating Christmas celebrations at Allen Park in city's downtown Park Street area, TMC supremo condemned "politics of hatred" pursued by Narendra Modi government.

'What harm have Christians done?': Mamata Banerjee

"Last year and earlier also I said, Why Jesus Christ's birthday will t be declared as a national holiday? You tell me it was re earlier. Why has BJP government withdrawn that? Everybody has sentiments. What harm have Christians done? This festival is celebrated throughout world. This time yes re are some problems due to COVID-19 pandemic. We have to wear masks and maintain social distancing," news ncy ANI quoted Banerjee as saying. 

"Is re secularism in India? I am sorry to say, a typical religious hatred politics is going on. I want to condemn this today," she said. Christmas is a gazetted holiday, as per National Portal of India, news ncy furr said. Stating that Christmas is a festival for all, Banerjee said, "In West Bengal, we celebrate Christmas, Durga Puja and Eid with equal gusto."

'BJP speaking garb of lies'

Continuing her attack against BJP, she said, "We all love and respect our Constitution but government in Delhi has respect for constitutional rms and values." Without naming BJP,  Banerjee charged  party of spreing "a garb of lies" about West Bengal's development.

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"Why are you speaking garb of lies to people. Tell truth. Ackwledge fact that we (West Bengal) stand first in MSME sector. We are front runners in various social sectors. Our Kanyashree and Sabooj Sathi schemes have earned universal acclaim," she said.

Kanyashree Prakalpa is an initiative taken by West Bengal government to improve life and status of girls by helping ecomically backward families with cash, while Sabooj Sathi is a scheme for providing bicycles to students. "Some people coming from Delhi are jealous and y keep spreing falsehoods," she said in an apparent reference to BJP national-level leers flaying state's performance in several sectors including employment.

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(With ncy inputs)