India Muslims angry over Eid holiday ban

As world Muslims prepare to celebrate Eidal-Adha this year, Indian Muslim students and teachers might be forced to stay in school after authorities in north Indian state of Rajasthan asked schools and colleges not to declare the day as a public holiday.

A Muslim professor argued that the government’s move was a clear attempt at ‘saffronization’ of schools, the term used by critics to describe pro-Hindu moves.

The controversial order came as the government in Rajasthan ordered schools and colleges to prepare for blood donation camps on September 25, to mark the birth anniversary of DeenDayalUpadhyaya, an icon of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its ideological mentor RashtriyaSangh.

Coinciding with the Eid Al-Adha, the day usually deemed holiday, the decision was therefore issued to cancel the Muslims’ holiday.

The order has upset Muslim groups, who threatened to go to court against the move to cancel the holiday.