Karunanidhi urges Modi to drop move to hold Good Governance Day programmes on Christmas

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to drop the Centre’s proposal to hold various events on December 25, as a part of the Good Governance Day.
“I request the Prime Minister to ensure that the Centre drops the proposals that would disappoint Christians and minorities. At least from now onwards, perform as a secular government,” the DMK chief said in statement.
Referring to reports that the ministries of rural development, labour, culture and tourism had planned various activities coinciding with the birthday of former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee on December 25, Karunanidhi said officials were being forced to report for duty on that day.
“So many programmes are scheduled and officials are asked participate in them. Will Christians celebrate Christmas or attend these events," he asked.
The programmes included launching new initiatives besides holding mass blood donation drives, he said citing reports.
He said officials of the ministry of rural development were planning to observe December 25 as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Diwas to commemorate the 15 years of the launch of a rural roads scheme by Vajpayee in 2000.
The DMK leader cited reported which said Union ministers, including minister rural development Chaudhary Birender Singh, minister of state for labour and employment Bandaru Dattatreya, minister of state for culture and tourism Mahesh Sharma, would participate in various events on December 25.
He urged Modi to ensure that the NDA government’s actions would not affect the sentiments of religious minorities.
Karunanidhi recalled his earlier statement on the Centre’s controversial circular to Navodaya schools and universities. He had urged Modi to rein in Hindutva outfits that were making a “mockery of communal harmony” and joined other parties in voicing apprehension that observing the Good Governance Day on December 25 could hamper Christmas festivities.