No holiday in Bengal on Ram temple inauguration day

As the nation prepares for the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, several states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Sikkim, Puducherry, and Goa, have declared a holiday. However, in Bengal, where the BJP had requested a holiday, CM Mamata Banerjee has maintained silence on the matter. State BJP President Sukant Majumdar had written a letter to Mamata Banerjee urging for a holiday, but as of now, there is no official communication on the issue. The lack of instructions from the State Secretariat has led to uncertainty, with sources suggesting that the CM might not make any decision on granting leave, pointing out that the request should have been made on Saturday.

While BJP-ruled states and the Central Government have declared holidays on the day of the Ram Temple inauguration, Bengal remains undecided. State BJP President Sukant Majumdar's letter to Mamata Banerjee requesting a holiday has not elicited a response. In contrast to other states, there seems to be little enthusiasm among the common people in Bengal regarding the temple inauguration. Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim has questioned the need for a holiday, stating that temples, mosques, and churches are inaugurated regularly across the country, and there is no widespread excitement among the public.

In a broader context, several BJP-ruled states, including UP, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Haryana, will observe the day with closed liquor shops. In Goa, schools and government offices will remain closed. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government and financial institutions under the Reserve Bank of India have declared a holiday. The National Stock Exchange will also be closed on January 22. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in response to the temple inauguration, has announced a goodwill rally across the state and will undertake a padayatra in Kolkata along with priests from various religions.