Mamata Banerjee demands Rabindranath Tagore birthday as national holiday

NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today demanded that May 8, which culminates year-long 150 birth anniversary celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore, be declared a national holiday.

"I discussed the issue of celeberation of 150 years of Tagore with the Prime Minister. Since May 8 is his birthday it should be declared as national holiday," Mamata told reporters after meeting Manmohan Singh here.

Mamata said she also also discussed with Singh the celebration of 150 years of Swami Vivekanda.