Dimapur, Dec. 18: Taking note of various news reports in the local media pertaining to Good Governance Day, Chief Minister TR Zeliang informed that he had written to the Prime Minister on December 12 bringing to his notice the objections raised by various organisations in Nagaland against the declaration of December 25 as Good Governance Day.
He had also suggested to the Prime Minister that the Good Governance Day could be observed on some other more convenient date, so as not to hurt the sentiments of the minority Christian community in India, a CMO release said on Sunday.
“In the event that changing of date is not possible, Nagaland State may be exempted from the obligation to organize any such official function on 25th December,” the Chief Minister had requested the Prime Minister, the CMO said.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that he along with other chief ministers of the Northeastern region had earlier this year vehemently opposed the decision of the Government of India to the Prime Minister himself in one of the meetings of the chief ministers with the former on the ground that December 25 is celebrated throughout the world as the birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ and that to hold such an observance on the date, no matter how noble the gesture or intention, would deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Christians.
The CMO said the Chief Minister is of the considered opinion that though good governance is constitutional right of the people, and though the date has been fixed to coincide with the birthday of revered leader of the nation and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the day being Christmas Day is inappropriate to hold any official function or occasion.
The Chief Minister further pointed out that the Government of India has been continuously observing Christmas day as a national holiday ever since India’s Independence, and even before.
