25th December should not be observed as ‘good governance day’
25th December should not be observed as ‘good governance day’
Introduction:
Controversies refuse to die even after HRD minster Smriti Irani gave her statement that the news of schools to remain open on Christmas to observe ‘good governance day’ is false. Parliament has seen almost no business ever since opposition claimed that Modi has to address this issue. The government, however, continues to make plans for ‘good government day, ignoring the pleas and controversies coming from all corners of the country. This is creating even more trouble and yet there has been no hearing for it. People were already beginning to question the ‘U turn’ of the BJP led government and this has just added up to the same old list. All talk and no action is indeed getting the government nowhere.
Against good governance day:
1. Christmas is celebrated all over the world and in India, where not just Christians but Hindus and Muslims too are a part of the celebration in most regions, asking the country to rather observe it as ‘good governance day’ to honor the former BJP Prime Minister is hurting the sentiments of the same people who trusted the government during elections to be secular and unbiased.
2. Just to cover up the matter of school close-open, HRD Minister replaced it with the voluntary online essay contest on the same day. Smriti Irani has once again, after propelling children to study Sanskrit and the Teacher’s day drama, shown to the nation that her views and ideas are anything but secular. Even if it is about that online essay contest, could it not wait till 26th of December instead of asking students to keep aside celebrations and indulge in essay contests?
3. RSS/VHP are insisting on no distribution of chocolates, and no Santa Claus to celebrate Christmas Day and of course the government wants us to believe that their overtly friendly ties with these parties does not get them a say in these misdeeds. Communal politics has to stop and BJP is either keen on propagating the same as pointed out by the opposition, or is being way too arrogant to address the issues.
4. Why should a single day be celebrated as ‘good governance day’ coming from a government who has been failing to keep promises? First the government should show through deeds that they are able to make the government actually good for the people and then celebrate such tantrums.
5. This is not against the birthday celebration of two of the leaders of India. The government could celebrate their birthdays in a modest way without creating such dramas involving the sentiments of people across the country.
6. PM wants to discuss a series of events and plans including clean India and discussing ways to make the government good with the ministers. Is this not something that he is supposed to do instantly or does he need a special occasion to address the various issues that the nation is facing? All these tantrums are enough to prove that the Modi led government is just about big talks and no actions.
7. There seems to be absolutely no coordination amongst the ministers of BJP. They all make their independent decisions without paying heed to the sentiments of people. Is this what happens in a democracy and that too being termed as ‘good governance?’
In support of good governance day:
1. It is sheer coincidence that former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday falls on the same day as Christmas and PM had announced the celebration of ‘good governance day’ a long time back. Celebrating both of them together should not be a hindrance if schools and colleges are not denied holiday.
2. It could be just misinterpretation as pointed out by some of the ministers that claimed
holidays being cancelled. Media and opposition took the advantage of turning it against the intentions of the government.
Conclusion:
Peacekeeping should be the utmost responsibility of the government and such instances that disturb people’s mindset should be avoided at all cost. There should be absolutely no problem if ‘good governance day’ could be postponed for 26th of December or prompted for 24th of December. PM should take the matter into consideration and keeping the religious sentiments of people in mind, making the right decision soon.
Discussion
- RE: 25th December should not be observed as ‘good governance day’ -Gaurav Somwanshi (12/22/14)
- In any nation with a multitude of communities, there will always be the question of minorities, who are most likely to be knowingly or unknowingly suppressed or discarded by the majority. With this in mind, it becomes absolutely necessary for the government to pay a special interest in minorities just to attain equal rights for them. And a failure to do so only shows insensitivity on part of the government, as was displayed by current government when they chose to designate 25th December as a "good governance day", and effectively reversing the status of 25th December as a public holiday. Effectively, all this does is diminish the importance of 'Christmas', the most important festival for Christians, by replacing it with this hullabaloo of 'good governance day'.
Such actions only underline the negative attitude of the government towards the minorities, and the government should have thought twice before implementing this idea.
But we, as Indians, irrespective of our religious affiliation, have a choice to stand in solidarity with the 'Christmas' festival, and not participate in the government's ill-thought initiative of 'good governance day'. - RE: 25th December should not be observed as ‘good governance day’ -Shikha Pandey (12/22/14)
- People have shown their lot of trust in BJP government so they are in power now. After coming into power if they get biased for any religion thats a shame for them. India is a Secular state and now-a-days each one of us celebrate all festivals. Festival is all about happiness and government shouldn't try to stop people from celebrating Christmas. Being a Hindu even I am excited and waiting for Christmas eve.
Knowingly or unknowingly HRD minister has made a mistake of announcing 25th December as a 'good governance day'. Any day can be celebrated as a governance day and one will always has a question in mind- Why only this day?
- RE: 25th December should not be observed as ‘good governance day’ -Pradnya Joshi (12/22/14)
- Our constitution guarantees freedom to profess any religion. Christmas is a important day in life of Christian. so government can not deny their right to celebrate festival by asking people to work on Christmas. Also if government wants to celebrate good governance day they should consider more appropriate day like atal bihari vajpayee's inauguration day into office. So selection of day will not be in discordant with Christians and still government can honour achievements of ex-PM wholeheartedly.
- RE: 25th December should not be observed as ‘good governance day’ -Akhil Agarwal (12/21/14)
- As the union govt is planning to declare 25 december as the 'Good Governance Day', the main question that arises in my mind that why only this is being takrn into consideration when there are many more politicians who have contributed their life for the development of country. I, totally agree that our ex-PM had been one of the most dynamic PMs, in the history of Indian Politics, but this decision of marking his birthdate as 'Good Governance Day' wouldn't be supported by him too. He would rather, in my opinion, have said that its not only my birth date that should be celebrated as a good governance day, instead of each and every single day should be celebrated as the same, so that the countrymen develops more confidance on the government's system and start beleiving on the government policies and procedures. Moreover, as rightly discussed in the discussions that this implementation should not only be imposed on schools and other educational institutions but it should also be applied to the government institutions, infact the term itself says 'Good Governance Day' and the same is applied only to educational institutions then what's the use of so much uproar and propoganda about this term in the public?
Hence, in my opinion taking 25 december as the 'GOOD GOVERNANCE DAY' will not justify the other politicians who have contributed their life for the sake of the country. Therefore, if we really want to respect our former prime minister then we should come together and take pledge that we would do our work coherently and with a sense of responsibility which would really respect the ex-PM's goal for corruption free, independent India. - RE: 25th December should not be observed as ‘good governance day’ -Deepa Kaushik (12/20/14)
- What actually is meant by “good governance”? We should ideally be in a state to celebrate each day for the “good governance”. If any citizen of the country has a slightest doubt regarding such a celebration, then the fact is pretty clear that the governance is not appreciable enough to be called a “good” one. In the present scenario, there is hardly any citizen who would accept for any such celebration. The term “Good Governance” should have been framed by the common man to honour the governance. But here, the government itself is portraying itself to be good.
The day the HRD Minister has selected for the Good Governance day is the universal eve of “Christmas”. It is not only a festival of the people from Christian community, but as many fellow human beings do appreciate and take part in the festivity mood. Just by tagging the day, only the government will remember their so-called term of so-called “good governance”, but the rest of the nation will definitely continue to honour the Christmas Eve as they used to do always.
If the government wants to celebrate the birth anniversary of Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then they should ideally use his name and ask for the celebration for him as well. Instead, if the government tries to give a fake nomenclature along with a compulsory celebration especially making a holiday as the working day for the educational institutions, then there can never be any whole hearted consent from anyone.
There is no doubt at all that the selection of the day is very much incorrect. 25th December will always be the Christmas Eve. Government can impose their regulations to transform it to be working day, but they will lose their support from the common man. And again, honour is a feeling that resides in the heart. If people do respect the governance of Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, they do portray the same in the way of support to him in any noble cause. Government cannot receive any respect for him by making 25th December as any “Good Governance” day.
