New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu Monday said the government has not asked the schools to remain open for an essay writing contest on Christmas day and such a participation will only be voluntary and online.
Seeking to allay concerns of the opposition members over Navodaya Schools being asked to hold an essay competition Dec 25, Naidu told the Lok Sabha that there was no circular issued to say that schools should be run on that day.
"Nothing has been made mandatory. There is no question of using force," Naidu added.
The opposition members sought the government's response over reports that said that Navodaya Schools are conducting an essay writing contest Dec 25.
The Christmas Day also happens to be the birthday of former prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the NDA government has decided to celebrate it as the Good Governance Day.
Earlier, raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader K.C. Venugopal said an essay competition is being held Dec 24-25 but Christians will go to churches on these days. "It will be hurting sentiments of minorities."
Venugopal added that he was not against observing the day as a Good Governance Day.
As Venugopal spoke, his fellow members from the Congress party and members from other parties rose from their seats. Some of them came close to the Lok Sabha speaker's podium.
"We want clarification from the minister," one of the members demanded.
As the protest continued, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the house for lunch.
Clarifying the issue after lunch, Naidu said he spoke to Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani over the issue and was told that there was no circular issued that the schools will run Dec 25.
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
BJP MLA's allegations against the organisation, it's office bearers bundle of lies; Jamiat is ready for any probe, it says
Jamiat-e-Ulema Maharashtra on Saturday while terming the allegations made by BJP MLA Ashish Shelar as 'bundle of lies' demanded a probe into the funding of the RSS and other Hindutva outfits. .... More
Also Read: Fadnavis defends Shelar, favours probe against Jamiat-e-Ulema
The change came after the catering company that provides meals to the 180 students in the small town of Sargé-lès-Le-Mans in southern France reported difficulties providing alternate meals for the 15 Muslim children on pork-based meal days. The change came after the catering company that ... More
Arguably, the difficulty of the Hindutva brigade is that unlike the 1990s when they succeeded in drumming up a wave in their favour by demolishing the Babri Masjid..... More
Also Read: Will organise Ghar Wapsi across India: Yogi Adityanath
The Hindu nationalist have constantly dinned into our consciousness that Muslims are separatists, terrorists and communal. There is a suspicion that any political party led and dominated by Muslims would ultimately lead to a second partition of the country.... More
Even as a growing number of mosques across the globe are going "female-friendly" by offering more space to women and seeking their involvement in worship places, in India and the subcontinent women inside mosques are still considered something .... More
Also Read: Muslim Personal Law Board and Indian Muslim women
Born in February 1929 at Ambet village in then Kulaba district (now Raigad), Antulay plunged into student politics in 1945 before going to London from where he earned the coveted degree of Barrister-at-Law....... More
Also Read: Former Union Minister, veteran Cong leader Abdur Rehman Antulay dies