A day after O Panneerselvam’s letter, Pongal back on holiday list

It may be recalled that the DMK announced an agitation on January 11 on the Central government decision while AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala too urged the Centre to review its decision. 

Chief Minister O Panneerelvam’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed, calling for inclusion of Pongal in the list of compulsory holidays by all Central government administrative offices. He said that similar to the Central government circular of 12 optional holidays including an additional day for Dusshera, an additional day for Pongal could be included as this would ensure that Thiruvalluvar day could be declared a holiday by the Tamil Nadu Central government employees’ welfare coordination committee. Following the objections raised by political parties in the state, the Central government chose to revoke its earlier order to remove Pongal from the compulsory holiday list.