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A controversy has erupted in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state of Goa with government employees being forced to attend offices on Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday commemorating the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
The state government had previously withdrawn the notice cancelling October 2 from the list of holidays. But its latest circular now directs employees to attend office for two hours on that day.
Chief Secretary Baleshwar Rai said the new circular, which has termed October 2 a 'clean offices day', makes it mandatory for all employees to attend office from 1000 to 1200 IST and clean up their workplace in keeping with Gandhiji's principles.
The controversy had erupted in November 2001 when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had suddenly cancelled Gandhi Jayanti and Goa Statehood Day [30 May] from the list of state holidays.
Parrikar, a staunch Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh member, had, however, dismissed the allegation that the action reflected the Sangh Parivar's permanent hatred for Gandhiji. "Gandhi believed in work and I want to begin the work culture on his birthday," he said.
But he withdrew the notice when he realised that Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
"We appreciate the noble and creative idea of cleanliness, but why choose Gandhi Jayanti?" said Christopher Fonseca, leader of the All-India Trade Union Congress to which several government employee unions are affiliated. "It is totally illegal to force anybody to attend office on a holiday."
Congress leader Shantaram Naik, condemning the government's decision, said, "At the most, it could be voluntary."
Naik had earlier appealed to workers to go on mass casual leave on the day, promising to reimburse them the day's salary when the Congress comes to power.
The government employees have, however, decided to demand compensation for the two hours they will have to attend work on October 2. "They cannot force us, but we can definitely demand pay for extra work on a holiday," said Ajit Talaulikar, president of an association of government employees.
Talaulikar dubbed it a purely political controversy, with no politician of any party having regard for the Mahatma. "Gandhiji practised what he preached, unlike these hypocrite politicians," he said.
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