NEW DELHI: The HRD Ministry was hauled up in Parliament on Monday over an alleged attempt to convert December 25, Christmas Day, into a working day to establish some “good governance” record, citing former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s birthday.
Several ministers had to come out with a clarification that “no such move” has been made.
But now it appears that the Prime Minister’s Office also wants this Christmas to be a working day for ministers, their ministries and the officialdom, all to establish its credentials and record of “good governance” on the 90th birthday of the ailing Vajpayee.
The Prime Minister’s Office note suggests that December 25 could be better utilised if the ministers and MPs visited sensitive districts and organised programmes on sanitation and other events.
It has also suggested that seminars with eminent speakers, e-governance camps can be organised to promote digital literacy on that day.
The Department of Personnel and Training circular is also on the way.
The BJP also wants to share the NDA Government’s achievements with the people on that day and draw parallels between the six-year rule of the Vajpayee government and the first six months of the present government.
BJP MPs, therefore, have been asked to participate in two-hour cleanliness drives and feedback sessions with citizens in their constituencies on the Christmas day, one of the MPs told Express.