Government on Monday said in Lok Sabha there is no CBSE circular asking schools to remain open on December 25 to observe 'Good Governance Day' and an online essay competition to mark the day is voluntary in nature.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said HRD Minister Smriti Irani and the HRD Secretary have informed him that there is no CBSE circular asking schools to remain open on Christmas Day. He said Navodaya Schools are already on Christmas break.
Students of residential schools, which would be open, were free to participate in the essay competition on December 24. Read more
14:45 IST Monday, 15 December 2014
Congress member K C Venugopal raised the issue of the reported government directive of keeping schools open on Christmas Day to observe 'Good Governance Day' to mark the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 25.
Venugopal said schools have been asked to remain open on Christmas Day on the pretext of essay competition.
"Asking schools to remain open on Christmas is hurting the sentiments of the minorities. We are a secular democratic country. Is this good governance? Celebrating Vajpayee's birthday is good but Vajpayee would not approve this," he said. He was supported by party colleagues and Left members who shouted, "We want a clarification from the government." AIADMK members were also on their feet demanding explanation from the government, as the House witnessed heated exchanges between members of the opposition and treasury benches.
Congress and Left members then trooped into the Well and in the din, the Speaker adjourned the House for almost an hour.
15:29 IST Monday, 15 December 2014
Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day after uproar over conversion issue.
14:13 IST Monday, 15 December 2014
Opposition members on Monday strongly raised the issue of religious conversions and a report that government schools have been asked to observe 'Good Governance Day' on Christmas Day, leading to three adjournments in Rajya Sabha during the pre-lunch session. Despite Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's statement that the report regarding observance of Good Governance Day, "is factually false", almost entire Opposition, including Congress, JD-U, Left parties and TMC, kept raising the issue.
Jaitley said HRD Minister Smriti Irani "has informed me that no such instruction has been issued, no school will function (that day). Only an online essay competition (is being organised). That's all." Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said there are reports that schools have been asked to remain open on December 25 to observe Good Governance Day.
Congress Deputy Leader Anand Sharma said he has given a notice under rule 267 for suspension of business to discuss the forced conversions being carried out by RSS affiliates.
"It is a very serious issue," he said, adding coordinated effort was being made to divide and polarise the society on communal lies by an outfit which calls itself a cultural organisation.
"An explosive situation is being created in the country," he said, adding, "We don't want their designs to succeed." Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said a discussion on conversion is listed on December 17 and Congress can raise the issue then.
13:08 IST Monday, 15 December 2014
Saradha Scam: TMC MPs drape themselves in black shawls in protest against 'misuse' of CBI by Centre
Trinamool Congress Members of Parliament draped themselves in black shawls on Monday and staged a protest outside parliament in protest against the arrest of West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra over his alleged involvement in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam. Read more
Latest updates:
13:55 IST Monday, 15 December 2014
Congress, Left create uproar over reported government directive to keep schools open on Christmas Day, forcing adjournment of in Lok Sabha.
12:34 IST Monday, 15 December 2014
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2:00 pm after uproar over conversion issue.
Following is the Parliament Schedule for Dec 15, 2014
LOK SABHA
1. Calling attention on situation arising out of food adulteration in the country
2. Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2014
3. Discussion on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
RAJYA SABHA
1. Calling attention on situation arising out of renaming of the domestic terminal of Hyderabad airport
2. Anti-Hijacking (Amendment) Bill, 2014 3. Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2014
(With agency inputs)
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