By IndiaTomorrow.net,
Ludhiana, 21 Sep 2015: Muslims in the state of Punjab are upset with the government not declaring holiday in schools and colleges on the day of Eid Al-Adha. For the last three years, the state government keeps schools and colleges open on that day. However, what has angered Muslims more this time is an examination which has been set on that day.
A Muslim delegation led by Maulana Usman Rahmani, General Secretary of Majlis Ahrar Party and deputy Shahi Imam of Punjab, met education minister Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema on Sunday. The delegation submitted a memorandum to him and demanded the government to announce holiday in all schools and colleges on Eid Al-Adha that will fall on 25th Sep.
“Leave aside holiday, this year, education department has put a paper on that day. This will deprive Muslim students from offering Eid namaz,” said Maulana Rahmani. He was accompanied with Sikh community leader Manjeet Singh Toni, Mohammad Mustakeem Ahrari, chief secretary of Shahi Imam, and others.
As per the latest Census 2011, Punjab’s population is 2,77,43,338, of which Muslims are 5,35,489 (that is about 2 percent). At the time of India’s partition in 1947, almost entire Muslim population of the state moved to the newly created Pakistan. India’s western neighbour also has a province called Punjab.
