'Islamic Republic of Bihar': BJP on Nitish's new holiday calendar
What's the story
Bihar's Education Department on Monday triggered a controversy with its 2024 school holiday calendar that reduced Hindu festive holidays but increased the same for Muslim festivals.
It excluded holidays for Rakshabandhan, Ram Navami, and Janmashtami but included three for Eid.
Bihar's government claimed it was in line with the Right to Education Act, which mandates at least 220 working days for upper primary classes.
However, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of indulging in "appeasement politics."
Context
Why does this story matter?
This is not the first time the Bihar government faced the BJP's ire over revising the school holiday calendar.
In August, too, the BJP slammed the Kumar-led government over the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB)'s decision to make changes to the calendar. The saffron party had claimed the move "hurt Hindu sentiments."
The BSEB had revised the holiday calendar for government schools, reducing festive holidays from 23 to 11 days between September to December 2023.
Details
Bihar's Education Department responds over row
Following the criticism, Bihar's Education Department explained that the 2024 holiday calendar was designed to ensure a minimum of 220 teaching days per the Right to Education Act 2009.
According to Live Hindustan, summer vacation holidays have now been increased from 20 to 30, while holidays for Makar Sankranti, Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Shivratri, Ram Navami, Bhaidooj, Hartalika Teej, and Jitiya have been removed.
In contrast, holidays for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) have been extended to three days each.
Twitter Post
New school holiday calendar posted on X
इस्लामिक रिपब्लिक ऑफ़ बिहार।
— Shandilya Giriraj Singh (@girirajsinghbjp) November 27, 2023
नीतीश और लालू सरकार ने स्कूलों में मुस्लिम पर्व की छुट्टी बढ़ाई, हिंदु त्योहारों में छुट्टी की ख़त्म। pic.twitter.com/ngjc4qVbuS
Holidays
Know about new holiday calendar
The new calendar reportedly has only nine Hindu festival holidays: Diwali (1), Durga Puja (3), Chhath Puja (3), and Holi (2).
However, it includes 11 holidays for six Muslim festivals: Shab-e-Barat (1), Eid al-Fitr (3), Eid al-Adha (3), Muharram (2), Chehallum (1), and Prophet Mohammad's birthday (1).
Holidays for both Eids have been increased, leading to the cancellation of several Hindu festival holidays like Makar Sankranti, Rakshabandhan, Saraswati Puja, Janmashtami, Ram Navami, Bhaidooj, Shivratri, Hartalika Teej, and Jitiya.
What Next?
BJP ministers slam Kumar's government
Commenting on the new school holiday calendar, Union minister Ashwini Choubey dubbed Kumar the "master of appeasement" and claimed the "anti-Hindu face" of Bihar's grand alliance government has resurfaced.
Union minister Giriraj Singh also slammed the government over the matter, referring to Bihar as an "Islamic Republic."
"The way Lalu Yadav and the [Kumar] government are attacking Hindus, in the future, they will be known as Mohammad Nitish and Mohammad Lalu," Singh said in a video message on X.