India, March 13 -- An old forest of Sonajhuri trees and its adjacent Visva Bharati university campus at Santiniketan in Bengal's Birbhum district was at the centre of a political row that erupted on Thursday over measures to keep festive revelers away from the UNESCO world heritage site.

The Bharatiya Janata Party said the restrictions were aimed at minority appeasement.

"This is the real ' Aurangzebi mindset' of Mamata Banerjee! Mamata Banerjee banned Holi in Shantiniketan to aid Ramzan and Friday prayers. Mamata Banerjee is acting like a Begum. Santiniketan Basanta Utsav in Sonajhuri Haat in Shantiniketan is a revered celebration where people from across the globe converge to enjoy the Holi festival but Mamata Banerjee knows just to a...