No intention to open schools on Christmas: Govt

Amid a row over Human Resource Development ministry's alleged move to keep schools "open" on Christmas day, government on Tuesday asserted that it had no such intention whatsoever.

K C Venugopal (Cong) flaunted "circulars" in Lok Sabha which, he said, stated that CBSE schools will also hold activities to observe 'Good Governance Day' on December 25 to mark former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthday.

Government's denial on Monday in the House was not factual, he said.

Government had said it was only an online competition but official documents in his possession said it was online and off-line and CBSE will also participate in them, he said.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said these offline activities were confined to Navodaya schools which are 100 per cent residential.

"Government has no such intention whatsoever to open schools on Christmas," he said.

Rudy cited a 1987 direction which said all festivals should be celebrated in Vidyalaya and competition and such events be held on campus as students cannot be permitted to go home.

Congress members raised some objection which was not permitted by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

The issue had led to uproar on Monday too.

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