Delhi Announces Half-Day Leave For Government Offices On Ram Temple Event

After the central government declared the half-day leave for the Ram Temple consecration on January 22, various state governments had followed the centre’s decision, declaring January 22 as a holy day. The capital city today joined the list, with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena giving his nod for the Delhi government”s proposal for the half-day leave for all government offices. An official order by the Delhi government was issued on Saturday, directing all government offices including the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), autonomous bodies, undertakings, and boards, to allow the employees to participate in the festivities.

The Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had send the proposal to the lieutenant governor for the half-day leave and then the assent was subsequently given, issuing the order, news agency ANI reported.

Notably, most of the BJP-ruled states including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Goa have given a full-day state holy day for the Ram temple event at Ayodhya. Some states have banned the sale of liquor, meat and fish to observe the day of the Ram temple ceremony.

The Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that he would skip the “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya and would go to the temple town in Uttar Pradesh and offer prayer to Lord Ram along with his family members after the consecration ceremony.

However, opposition parties have raised concern over declaring public leaves for the temple event, with the CPI(M) terming it as a “misuse of power.” In a statement, the Polit Bureau on Friday said: “This is yet another step to directly involve the government and State in what should be a purely religious function. Employees have the right to make a personal choice regarding their religious belief and behaviour but it is a gross misuse of power for the government itself to issue such a circular.”