Maharashtra will celebrate Vajpayee’s birthday on Christmas
Maharashtra will celebrate Vajpayee’s birthday on Christmas
The Maharashtra government has decided to celebrate December 25, birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as good governance day, despite it being a public holiday due to Christmas. The Christmas holiday has not been cancelled, but the state has asked its employees to voluntarily conduct training programmes on the day on right to information, right to service, stress management, and ideas to run the government.
However, Congress and NCP have objected to the celebration asking how good governance day can be celebrated when the government is not functioning. They also said that the decision would hurt religious sentiments. A government resolution (GR) in this regards said “despite having public holiday on December 25, the employees should celebrate it as good governance day as it is the birthday of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.”
Mantralaya, the seat of the state government, and government offices at the district level, would be expected to organise the programmes.
Principal secretary of the general administration department P.S. Meena said, “The good governance celebration is for creating awareness among employees. We are not asking them to cancel their holiday, but to keep the programmes mentioned in the GR.”
The Maharashtra government employees union has said it is ready to conduct one of the programmes as directed by the GR. “They have not cancelled our holiday. We do not mind conducting one of the programmes on the day,” G.D. Kulthe from the union said.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant ridiculed the idea. “How can one celebrate good governance day when the government is non-functional. We are not against celebrating the former PM’s birthday but it is illogical,” he said.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said no leader could be bigger than Jesus Christ. “Christmas is a religious festival and has been celebrated for over 2000 years. How can the government celebrate the former PM’s birthday on the same day Mr Vajpayee’s birthday can be celebrated later also. This is hurting religious sentiments of the people,” Mr Malik said.
