New Delhi: BJP leader Atul Bhatkhalkar on Monday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying that January 22 be declared a holiday in Maharashtra.
Bhatkhalkar said, “ The Ram temple at Ayodhya is being constructed after a long struggle of 500 to 600 years. The idol of Ramlalla will be installed at the temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Everybody will celebrate the day like Diwali festival. To enable people to participate in the celebrations, the government should announce January 22 as an official holiday.”
“The temple construction has come after the relentless efforts undertaken by several lakh karsevaks. Several people sacrificed their lives for the temple. The people have been awaiting this great moment anxiously.”
“On January 22, every house will light a lamp to celebrate the Ram temple. Various programmes are being organised area-wise across the city and suburbs.” Bhatkhalkar added that the government should also give instructions to private establishments to make the day an official holiday for their employees, The Indian Express reported.
