'Islamic Republic Of Bihar': Nitish Govt Comes Under BJP Fire Over 2024 School Holiday Calendar

The education department of Bihar on Monday released a list of holidays saying the chart has been created to ensure at least 220 teaching days under the Right to Education

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a stinging attack on the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government for allegedly reducing the number of holidays for the state's schools during Hindu festivals and increasing it for Muslim festivals. While Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey denounced the move as "anti-Hindu", Rashtriya Janata Dal said it was the BJP-led Centre that had reduced the number of holidays to ensure attendance of students remained above 200 days.

  

The education department of Bihar on Monday released the holiday list for 2024, saying it was created to ensure at least 220 teaching days under the Right to Education. The holidays for Hartalika Teej and Jitiya have been scrapped in the new list, while holidays for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) have been increased to three days each.

Choubey accused the Bihar government of hating Sanatans for vote bank. Calling Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a “warlord of appeasement”, Choubey said, “Once again the anti-Hindu face of the uncle-nephew government came to the fore. On one hand, holidays for Muslim festivals are being extended in schools, while holidays for Hindu festivals are being abolished". “Shame on the government that hates Sanatan for vote bank,” he further said.

Firebrand BJP leader Giriraj Singh also berated the Nitish government, saying the state has been turned to “Islamic State of Bihar.” 

"This is for the third time that the Nitish government has issued 'Tughlaqi' order,” Singh said, adding Nitish Kumar will have to “face consequences in upcoming elections if fails to take back this decision.” 

“In future, they will be known as Mohammad Lalu Yadav, Mohammad Nitish Kumar," he said. 

BJP MP Sushil Modi accused the Nitish government for "selectively slashing" holidays for Hindu festivals while "holidays for Muslim festivals have been increased."

Responding to the accusations, RJD leader Shakti Yadav said, "Govt of India has issued a guideline that attendance in schools should be above 200 days. So, efforts are being made by the Govt of India to reduce the holidays...How can the BJP then question this."

JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar said, "The holidays of Shab-e-Barat have been reduced and there is no discussion over it...Maha Shivratri, Krishna Janmashtami, Basant Panchami, Holi and Dussehra holidays have been retained." 

"The education department can only give an explanation as to why certain holidays were increased...Instead of looking at it through a political lens, BJP should give an opinion after the clarification from the education department," he added.