TMC rally thanks UNESCO for cultural heritage tag for Durga Puja, BJP slams Mamata for taking ‘credit’

New Delhi: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday led a TMC rally in Kolkata to thank UNESCO for putting Durga Puja on the intangible cultural heritage representative list. The rally saw a huge gathering and presence of many TMC ministers who assembled at the Red Road, after the rally that commenced from Thakurbari & moved through key areas of the city.

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee takes out a rally thanking UNESCO for putting Durga Puja on the intangible cultural heritage representative list pic.twitter.com/Wj5omF8QS7

— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2022

Earlier in the day, CM Mamata also took to Twitter to express her gratitude.

“We thank @UNESCO for recognising Durga Puja as an intangible cultural heritage and honouring the labour of love of everyone involved (sic),” she wrote.

This year, a month-long celebration has commenced in Kolkata from today.

Malviya slams Mamata

While Mamata & her ministers publicly celebrated the conferring of UNESCO heritage status on Durga Puja, the BJP leaders slammed the Bengal CM for walking away with the credit.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said that she had no role in getting this honour, rather it was because of efforts of Sangeet Natak Akademi. Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, going a step ahead, termed the TMC celebrations an attempt to divert attention from corruption & scandals that its leaders are steeped in.

Mamata Banerjee is organising a rally to take credit for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage tag for Durga Puja. The truth however is that she had NO role whatsoever in getting the award. It was because of efforts of Sangeet Natak Akademi, an institution under the Modi Govt. pic.twitter.com/HcUCLrDE73

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 1, 2022

This procession is @mamataofficial‘s desperate attempt to divert attention from the corruption & scandals.
Bengalis are smart people & realise that due to Sangeet Natak Akademi’s efforts (Central Govt Institution) Durga Puja received UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status. https://t.co/pjB1NQdXTL

— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) September 1, 2022