CPI(M) slams government's 'Christmas circular' to schools

NEW DELHI: Terming as "offensive and unjustifiable" government's reported decision to keep Navodaya schools open on Christmas, CPI(M) today demanded its withdrawal saying it was an "assault" on the religious right of Christians.

The HRD Ministry has taken "yet other offensive and unjustifiable decision to ask CBSE and other government-run schools to observe 'good governance day' on Christmas day, December 25. Already the Navodaya schools' management have decided that the schools will remain open on December 24 and 25," the party Politburo said in a statement.

"This is a crude interference in the schedule of schools which go on Christmas vacation from December 24 and is an assault on the religious right of the Christian community," it said.

The CPI(M) demanded "withdrawal of this communally motivated instruction" and said if the government wants to observe 'good governance day' on December 25, it should do so without involving the schools.

The Government on its part has clarified that no such instruction has been issued and only an online essay competition on 'Good Governance' is being organised.