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Business News/ Education / News/  Amid criticism, Smriti Irani says no school on Christmas
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Amid criticism, Smriti Irani says no school on Christmas

HRD minister Irani dismisses media report suggesting schools would remain open on 25 December to observe good governance day

A file photo of human resource development minister Smriti Irani. Photo: HTPremium
A file photo of human resource development minister Smriti Irani. Photo: HT

New Delhi: The human resource development (HRD) ministry on Monday denied that it has asked schools under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to remain open on 25 December to celebrate a good governance day. The denial came after the government faced criticism over a circular issued by a Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), asking all its schools to observe 25 December as good governance day.

“There is no requirement for any school to remain open on that day and the school vacations will be adhered to," the HRD ministry said in a statement.

The Rajya Sabha, where the ruling National Democratic Alliance government is in a minority, was adjourned thrice during the pre-lunch session over the circular. The Lok Sabha saw an uproar as well.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) parliamentarian Sitaram Yechury said the government launched a programme on Swachh Bharat (clean India) on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, the ruling party’s affiliates are campaigning on religious conversions and now the government wants to celebrate good governance on Christmas day. “All this is a whole package that we think is very dangerous to the very constitutional guarantees that have been given," Yechury said.

Leaders from several political parties, including the Congress, Janata Dal (United) and Trinammol Congress also criticized the government on the circular that was issued on 10 December.

D. Raja of CPI said there is a pattern to what the government is doing. It is creating division among communities, he said. “This good governance celebration on 25 December is mixing politics with religion," Raja said.

HRD minister Smriti Irani dismissed as “baseless and inaccurate" the media report suggesting that schools would remain open on 25 December to observe good governance day. “December 25 is Christmas and will be celebrated like that and schools will be shut," she told reporters.

On 14 December, the Telegraph newspaper first reported about the circular, followed by Times of India on Monday.

“Dear @timesofindia deliberate mischief by ur reporter on the front page today. All schools closed for XMas, essay competition only online," Irani said on Twitter on Monday morning.

NVS issued a circular dated 10 December in which it said: “This is with regard to celebration of the birthday of Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former prime minister of India and also Sh. Madan Mohan Malaviya as the ‘Good Governance Day’ on 25th December".

It also said CBSE will be organizing competitions on good governance on 24-25 December. “You are requested to ensure that the Good Governance day is celebrated in all JNVs (Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas) under your region. A consolidated report specifying activities carried out in all JNVs is to be submitted by email along with photographs/video recordings to this office on 25th December, 2014," NVS commissioner G.S. Bothyal said in the circular.

The ministry said in the statement that the online essay competition is voluntary and students can participate from their homes or any other place that provides online access. There is no requirement for any school to remain open on that day and school vacations will be adhered to, the ministry said.

PTI contributed to this story.

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Published: 15 Dec 2014, 11:33 PM IST
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