By TCN News,
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government yesterday declared August 29 and 30 as Eid holidays for educational institutions. If the Eid comes on August 31, that day too will be holiday with a compensating working day later.
Government offices will have holiday on August 30. If Eid comes on August 31, that day will be made restricted holiday for Muslim employees only.
Fixing the Eid holidays to at least three days has been the demand of Muslim organizations for quite a long time. Earlier this month, several leaders of Muslim organizations demanded in a joint statement that educational institutions be given three days’ holidays for Eid. The two Eids are the most important festivals of Muslims, who make up 25 percent of Kerala’s population. But these festivals are given only one day each as holiday. This discrimination prevails when Onam and Christmas are 10 days’ holidays each and other festivals are also given holidays. This does not suit a healthy democratic society, the statement reportedly said.
Muslim League president Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, KPA Majeed (Muslim League), Cherusseri Sainudheen Musliyar, Sadiqali Shihab Thangal (Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema), TP Abdullakkoya Madani, Kunjimuhammed Parappoor (Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen), Dr Hussain Madavoor (Indian Islahi Movement), Prof AK Abdul Hameed (Samastha Kerala Sunni Vidyabhyasa Board), T Arifali, P Mujeeb Rahman (Jamat e Islami), Dr EK Ahmed Kutty, CP Umer Sullami (Nadvathul Mujahideen), Prof K Alikkutty Musliyar, Abdussamad Pookkottur (Sunni Yuvajana Sangham), Thodiyoor Muhammed Kunji Moulavi (Dakshin Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema), Kadakkal Abdul Azeez Moulavi, Adv KP Muhammed (Kerala Jamat Federation), TM Bappu Musliyar, Pinangode Aboobaker (Samastha Kerala Islam Matha Vidyabhyasa Board), CP Kunjimuhammed, Abdul Kareem (MSS), Dr Fasal Gafoor (MES) and PK Hameed Kutty (MECA) signed the statement.
Earlier the Kerala Arabic Teachers Federation had demanded that August 29th and 31st also be declared holiday for educational institutions, and that the salary of government employees and teachers be given on August 24, 25 and 26. State leaders of the organisation submitted memorandum raising the demands before Education Minister PK Abdurabb and Finance Minister KM Mani.