Haryana CM Saini Declares Eid-ul-Fitr A Restricted Holiday, Congress Calls It 'Wrong Decision'
The Haryana government has declared a restricted holiday on Eid-ul-Fitr on March 31, instead of a gazetted holiday due to the financial year-end. The decision has sparked political debate.
Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed as a restricted holiday instead of a gazetted holiday in Haryana this year on March 31, a government notification stated.
The modification was done as March 29 and March 30 are weekends and March 31 is the closing day of the financial year (2024-25), the notification issued on Wednesday read.
related stories
- 12 Suspended Congress MLAs Protest Overnight In Odisha Assembly, Demand Action On Crime Against Women
- Chaos In Karnataka Assembly As 18 BJP MLAs Suspended Over Honey Trap Probe Demand: What It Means
- Despite 'Constitution Change' Remark, Congress Stands Firmly Behind DK Shivakumar; Here's Why
- Karnataka BJP MLAs Dragged Out Of Assembly After Suspension Amid Showdown Over Honey-trap Row | Watch
“The Haryana Government has declared a restricted holiday under Schedule-II instead of a gazetted holiday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr on March 31," the official statement stated.
As the decision was opposed during the ongoing budget session of the Haryana Assembly, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said, “I have also said in the House that this should not be made an issue. This is the first time that three holidays have come at the end of the financial year. Many types of transactions take place at the end of the financial year, so we have declared it (Eid-ul-Fitr) a restricted holiday."
“If someone wants to take leave, there is no restriction on that. There should be no politics on this," he said.
Congress MLA Aftab Ahmed questioned the ruling BJP’s move and raised the issue in the assembly, saying a notification has been issued and now, Eid-ul-Fitr will be a restricted holiday instead of a gazetted one.
The festival will be celebrated all over the country but the Haryana government has declared a restricted holiday on the occasion, the MLA from Nuh said.
Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda asked, “Is March 31 only for Haryana?" Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini told the House that the decision was taken as March 31 is the last day of the financial year."
“It should not be made an issue," he said.
Also speaking to reporters later, Congress MLA Kuldeep Vats said, “The Haryana government has decided to replace Eid‘s gazetted holiday with a regional holiday, this decision is wrong."
“Whether it’s our Hindu religion, Muslim, Sikh, or any other faith, regardless of the festival, whether it’s Diwali, Holi, or Eid, the government should not cancel any holiday or celebration," he opined.
A restricted holiday allows government employees to take a day off at their discretion, unlike a gazetted holiday, which mandates a full-day closure of government offices and institutions.
Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across India on March 31, which is also the closing day of the financial year 2024-25.
- Location :
- First Published: