Yogi Adityanath scraps 15 public holidays; irks Muslim clerks 

The Uttar Pradesh government has scrapped 15 public holidays marking the birth or death anniversary of important personalities. Milad un-Nabi, Cheti Chand and Valmiki Jayanti are amongst some of the forgone holidays.

UP Muslim clerics expressed their dismay and disapproval for Yogi’s decision to do away with holidays like Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi and ‘Alvida’ – the last Friday of the month of Ramzan before Eid.

“Several functions are held on the occasion and even non-Muslims participate in the functions in large numbers. Moreover the decision to do away with holidays on these two important days may not reflect well on the government not just among the Muslims in India but across the globe.”

The state cabinet meeting, chaired by chief minister Yogi Aduityanath, on Tuesday decided to scrap 15 of them. “The cabinet has cancelled 15 public holidays marking the anniversaries of great personalities. Students will now be taught on these days about these figures through various programmes,” minister Shrikant Sharma informed.

On the occasion of Dr BR Ambedkar’s 126th birth anniversary, newly elected CM Adityanath expressed concerns over the shrinking academic session due to increased holidays.

“There should be no holidays in schools on birth anniversaries of great personalities. Instead, a special two- hour programme should be held to teach students about them. The 220-day academic session has been reduced to only 120 days due to such holidays and if this tradition continues, there will be no day left for teaching in schools,” he said.

Well, this decision is a rational decision in the wake of shrinking academic session in UP schools. Yogi identified that such holidays are making it tough for teachers to complete the curriculum. The completion of course before exams came in as a rigning bell for teachers who would brief students about the chapters in a bid to complete the course in time. This makes the education process a futile exercise. Yogi Adityanath has taken the lead. Joining the bandwagon could be other chief ministers who share the same views about the effect of holidays on the education system.

List of holiday which have been scrapped by Yogi Adityanath