CM Yogi Adityanath opposed to school holidays in memory of eminent people

All schools and colleges across Uttar Pradesh (UP) were closed on Friday on the occasion of Ambedkar birth anniversary.

Next year, the schools may well be open on the day, or for that matter on birth and death anniversaries of other great men with UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath disapproving of holiday politics, blatantly pursued by his predecessors Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav.

Instead of full classes the schools may hold special function to educate students about the personality whose anniversary falls on the day, the chief minister mooted on Friday. Interestingly, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav had justified public holidays in memories of great leaders.
“Public holidays on the occasion of birth anniversary of great personalities are necessary so that communities can celebrate and remember their leaders,” he had stated while announcing a holiday on the birth anniversary of saint Nishadraj during a conference of 17 backward castes at the party office on February 16.

Yogi has a different take.

At a function on the Ambedkar’s anniversary at the Lucknow’s Ambedkar Mahasabha office, he said, “Though some may not like it but this concept of closing schools on birth and death anniversaries of great men must end. On many occasions children aren’t even aware of the purpose of the holiday defeating its whole purpose.”
The CM suggested schools should hold special programmes on the occasion to make students aware of the life and times of great men.