A flash news on Central Government’s decision to remove Pongal from its compulsory holidays list to restricted holidays list triggered sharp reactions from major political parties in Tamil Nadu. But, the actual story behind the Centre’s move seem to be totally different.

The Central Government offices have 14 mandatory holidays including Republic Day, Independence Day and other religious festivals. They also have 12 optional holidays, out of which three will be chosen by the Central Government’s Employees Welfare Association. Pongal has been in the optional holiday list for many years now.

Last year, as Gandhi Jayanthi (mandatory holiday) fell on a Sunday, Central Government put Pongal in the mandatory holiday list (only for 2016) to compensate the number of holidays. And now, Pongal has again gone back to the optional holiday list. The confusion began there and many misinterpreted it.

The BJP national Secretary, H. Raja, says, “This year, Pongal is falling on a Saturday. The welfare association might include Dussera in the list (instead of Pongal as the employees can get an extra day off). The decision will be taken by the association only. We cannot be blamed for this.”

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said: “Pongal has been in the optional holiday list only for more than 15 years. It looks like the top political leaders have no knowledge about it. Among the 12 optional holidays, Pongal comes in 10th place. I wish it is made mandatory because festivals like Mahaveer Jayanti and Gurunanak Jayanti, that are celebrated by a small group of people, fall under the mandatory list. Pongal which is celebrated by over 7.5 crore people is still in the optional holiday list.”

BJP leader K.T. Raghavan, in a statement, blamed the media and some political leaders for creating such a confusion. “If anybody has a problem, they can approach the employees welfare association. The earlier Congress-led UPA Governments too followed the same pattern. We have changed nothing,” he said.

In a press meet today, Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan said, “The opposition parties are trying to turn people against the Government. If anybody has a problem with the holidays, they can appeal to the Central Government Employees Welfare Association. The Government cannot be blamed for this.”