Mamata Banerjee takes credit score for UNESCO Heritage tag for Durga Puja

A day after UNESCO added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its record of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tried to take credit score for the historic feat.
While chatting with the media, Banerjee claimed, “I’m overwhelmed with the prize that I got yesterday. Durga Puja has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage List. Some people, who said Mamata didn’t let people perform puja, should hide their faces…I want to make West Bengal number one in the world.”
Screengrab of the tweet by ANI
The West Bengal Chief Minister insinuated that the itemizing of Durga Puja in UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage record was the results of her endeavour. However, nothing could be farther from the reality. It was, in truth, the consequence of energetic pursuit by the Narendra Modi-led-government on the Centre. As per a report revealed by the Financial Express on April 3, 2019, the Modi authorities had nominated Durga Puja in Kolkata for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) standing for 2020.
“The nomination has been forwarded by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, which operates under the Union Ministry of Culture. Sangeet Natak Akademi has termed Durga Puja as the most important festival of West Bengal. It has said that apart from Kolkata, the festival is observed in several states and cities across India and even in a number of countries.” the report added.
It additional said, “…Durga Puja vividly manifests the amalgamation of religion and art in the city. One will get a detailed exhibition of the celebration of craftsmanship, cross-community revelry and cross-cultural transactions. These are the reasons why Sangeet Natak Akademi has nominated Durga Puja in Kolkata for UNESCO Heritage status for 2020.”
Screengrab of the information report by Financial Express
BJP lashes out at Mamata Banerjee
Union Minister For Culture, Tourism And Development Of North Eastern Region (DoNER) G Kishan Reddy refuted the claims of Mamata Banerjee on Twitter, and knowledgeable that it was the results of 2 years of exhausting work of the union tradition ministry by way of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. He additionally credited the exterior affairs ministry and India’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO for recognition.
‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ has been inscribed by @UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition is because of 2 years of hard-work of the @MinOfCultureGoI by way of @sangeetnatak.I’d additionally wish to thank @MEAIndia & India’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO. https://t.co/39fZboYSvi— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) December 17, 2021
In a tweet, BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya knowledgeable, “No, Mamata Banerjee, you didn’t get the award. It is a recognition for India and (the) proud people of Bengal because of the proposal sent by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, an institution under the Modi government. You, on the contrary, did everything to destroy (the) Durga Puja festival…”
No, Mamata Banerjee, you didn’t get the award. It is a recognition for India and proud folks of Bengal due to the proposal despatched by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, an establishment below the Modi authorities.You, quite the opposite, did all the pieces to destroy Durga Puja pageant… https://t.co/hGinJg1GSD pic.twitter.com/FKlZKGOIbm— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 16, 2021
He shared particulars of the Modi authorities’s initiative (as revealed by the Financial Express) and added, “Finally, on Dec 15, 2021, the UNESCO had accepted the proposal of Union Govt of India and included the Durga Puja in the UNESCO #IntangibleHeritage list.”
Mamata Banerjee had undermined Durga Puja for appeasement politics
In 2017,  Mamata Banerjee had introduced that there could be no idol immersion after 6 pm on Dashami day to make method for the observance of Muharram. Following the announcement, a PIL was filed within the Calcutta High Court which claimed that the announcement had damage the non secular sentiments of the bulk group.
The Calcutta High Court drew parallels between West Bengal Police and Maharashtra Police when it comes to dealing with festivals of various communities falling on the identical day, which didn’t go down fairly effectively with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. During the listening to, the judges requested what number of Muharram procession requests have been granted in the course of the stated interval. It turned out that solely two organisers had sought permission for the Taazia procession throughout Muharram.
No idol immersion after 6 pm on Dashami (Sept 30) until Oct 1 as a consequence of Muharram processions, immersion will resume from Oct 2: WB CM M Banerjee pic.twitter.com/VMVuTBRlyy— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2017
The Court discovered it shocking that for less than two processions, the federal government had stalled the whole Durga Puja immersion ceremony. The TMC authorities had handed the same order again in 2016 over Durga idol immersions. This order was not solely flayed by Kolkata High Court, the language utilized by the court docket was fairly extraordinary in that it particularly castigated the West Bengal authorities for “appeasing Muslims”.