LS Speaker seeks factual note on schools 'opening' on Dec 25

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today sought a "factual note" from the government on the row over the reported move to keep schools open on Christmas holiday, after some opposition members accused it of "misleading" Lok Sabha on the matter.
Government, however, denied the charge and said it has no intention whatsover to open schools on Christmas Day.
Saugata Roy (TMC) and K C Venugopal (Cong) raised the issue with the Congress member flaunting "circulars" which, he said, stated that CBSE schools would also hold activities to observe 'Good Governance Day' on December 25, to mark the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Government's denial yesterday in the House was not factual, Venugopal said.
"I am...Pointing out a mistake in the statement of the HRD Minister (Smriti Irani) made regarding Christmas holiday. She has to correct her statement because she has misled the House," Roy said.
Mahajan said she had received notices from the members on the issue. "That is why...I am calling for a factual note in this regard."

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had made a statement on behalf of Irani, saying there is no CBSE circular asking schools to remain open on Christmas Day.
Venugopal said government claimed that it was only an online competition but official documents in his possession said it was online and off line and CBSE would also participate in them.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said these off line activities were confined to Navodaya Vidyalaya schools which are 100 per cent residential.
"Government has no such intention whatsoever to open schools on Christmas," he said.
Rudy cited a 1987 direction which said all festivals should be celebrated in Vidyalaya and competition and such events would be held on campus, as students cannot be permitted to go home.
Congress members raised some objection which was not permitted by the Speaker.