Naushad Siddiqui abstains from West Bengal Assembly vote to make Poila Baishakh statehood day

Siddiqui then suggested the statehood day be observed on October 16, when Tagore organised “Rakhibandhan Utsab” to oppose the partition of Bengal in 1905.

“Even though we want to celebrate the statehood day, we should not observe it on Poila Baishakh because that is already celebrated as another day by Bengalis. We should celebrate this on October 16,” the MLA said.

In response, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “Many people asked me why we are now taking the initiative to celebrate Bangla Dibas… If we do not oppose this right now, it (June 20) will be notified (as the statehood day) and the next generation will not know the truth. The wrong day will then be celebrated as the statehood day.”

The Trinamool Congress supremo was referring to the central government’s proposal to celebrate as the foundation day June 20, which she said was “synonymous with violence and bloodshed that marked the partition (of Bengal)”.

Siddiqui also criticised the government’s decision to hike the salaries of MLAs and ministers. The government should instead increase the salaries of its employees, he said.

The proposal to observe Poila Baisakh as Bangla Diwas and accept the Tagore song as the state anthem was moved by minister Shovandev Chattopadhyay, Sashi Panja and other ruling MLAs.

Naushad later said, “We proposed October 16 because on that day Rabindranath Tagore started the Rakshabandhan Celebration giving rakhi to the chitpur Imam. That day marked as secular day of Bengal.”