Good Friday is no more a Public Holiday in Gujarat state: Christians held dharna

Ahmedabad(April 7): Yesterday around 2000 Christians held a dharna near the statue of Dr. Ambedkar at the Sarangpur cicle in Ahmedabad in protest against the government decision to list Good Friday (April 9) as a restricted holiday instead of a public holiday.

Christians in Gujarat are annoyed at the BJP-ruled state government for its indifference towards the community, pointing this new development as another means to further suppress the minorities even when the 'Godhra ghost' refused to die away.

"The Christian community in the state is stunned and sad," said Samson Christian, joint secretary of the All India Christian Council.

In 2002 and 2003, Good Friday was declared a public holiday. And when annual examinations in state government schools were scheduled on that day, Christian organisations procured stay orders from the High Court against the move.

J.L. Patel, deputy secretary in the General Administration Department (GAD) that deals with the holiday list said that generally the central government holiday list is followed with local changes as per the state government's decision.

Refusing to acknowledge that the holiday has been cancelled, Patel insisted that it remained a restricted holiday in the state and anyone who wanted it could avail of the Restricted holiday.

However, describing Good Friday as an important Christian festival, Samson Christian said cancellation of the public holiday on the day amounted to snatching away the constitutional and religious rights of Christians.

By our correspondent.