BR Ambedkar’s death anniversary is the latest public holiday to be scrapped off from the Uttar Pradesh public holiday bank, reported Scroll.in. A circular was issued by the Lucknow District Magistrate stating that 6 December has been mistakenly included in the list of public holidays of the Lucknow District Collectorate.
Ambedkar’s death anniversary was first declared a public holiday in Uttar Pradesh under the Bahujan Samaj Party government. It was rescinded in 2012. The Samajwadi Party government again declared it a holiday in 2015, Scroll.in reported.
Earlier this year, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath scrapped 15 public holidays that commemorate the birth and death anniversaries of social figures. However, government employees will be able to avail these holidays using their restricted holiday quota, PTI reported.
On the eve of Ambedkar’s 61st death anniversary, tributes poured in from all corners.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to the architect of the Constitution at the Parliament House Lawns in Delhi.
Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Thawar Chand Gehlot and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also paid respects to the Dalit icon.
On this occasion, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi tweeted:
Thousands of followers who converged at the Ambedkar memorial, Chaitya Bhoomi, on his 61st death anniversary.
Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao also paid tributes to the Dalit leader at Chaitya Bhoomi.
Those thronging the place shouted slogans like ‘Jai Bheem’ and ‘Babasaheb amar rahe’.
In a separate incident, three persons were injured on Tuesday, 5 December, when a pandal, set up for Ambedkar's followers at Shivaji Park, collapsed due to heavy rains.
(With inputs from PTI, Scroll)
(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335) .
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)