Birth or death anniversaries will not be public holidays from now on in Delhi with the Aam Aadmi Party-led government deciding to follow the footsteps of Uttar Pradesh.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced the decision on Friday through Twitter but did not forget to credit the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government’s decision for giving them the idea.
“The Delhi government will cancel holidays on birth and death anniversaries of eminent people. I have issued instructions to the Chief Secretary in this regard,” Sisodia tweeted.
Lauding the UP government, he said, the dispensation in the neighbouring state has taken a “good initiative” and “we should always be ready to learn from other states”.
He also said the acceptance for the AAP government’s decision to set up ‘mohalla’ (local) clinics and scrap use of red beacons have given more encouragement to them.
The Uttar Pradesh government on April 25 decided to cancel 15 holidays in educational institutions, saying students would now be taught about these great personalities on these days.
The AAP government’s decision on holidays and public acknowledgement of its rival for the inspiration comes at a time it is facing criticism over its style of functioning, which a section claims resulted in the recent electoral debacle that included the Delhi civic polls.
The move is seen as AAP’s attempt to recalibrate its functioning and be seen as an accommodative dispensation rather than confrontational. Though the decision would not touch the 18 scheduled holidays, the list of 34 restricted holidays for 2017 could see a pruning.
