Pongal Holiday: Political parties up in arms

Chennai: Political leaders on Monday charged the Centre with removing Pongal from the general holidays list and alleged that the BJP government is making an assault on Tamil culture and termed it as a bid to divert attention from protests to lift jallikattu ban.

AIADMK general secretary V. K. Sasikala said it was shocking to know that the Union Government has converted Pongal into a restricted holiday instead of general holiday.

“Pongal is a festival that is celebrated in Tamil Nadu by people of all faith and it is the duty of the Central Government to ensure that people here celebrate the festival of harvest with their families,” she said in a statement. She also hoped that Pongal would be announced as a general holiday.

DMK working president M.K. Stalin slammed the move and announced that he would lead a protest against the move on January 11, while Dravidar Kazhagam led by K. Veeramani announced a protest the next day.  MDMK general secretary Vaiko described the move as an attack on Tamil civilisation and culture. Though, Deepavali and Dasara are not celebrated by all sections of people, they are in the general holidays list.

Similarly, Mahavir Jayanthi, which is not celebrated by all is in the general holidays list due to the greatness of Mahavir. The festivals celebrated only Christians and Muslims too are in the general list, he pointed out.  

The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, Tamil Nadu has announced a protest on Tuesday. Though the circular mentioning the general holidays and restricted holidays was issued in June, the association seems to have woken up very late.

Union Government employees have 14 compulsory holidays and get additional 3 holidays from the restricted list by the state committees according to their need. “We have written a letter to the Prime Minister demanding that Pongal be announced as general holiday,” M. Duraipandian, general secretary, Central Government Employees and Workers, Chennai, said.