Central Govt staff observe Sadbhavna Divas, a day early

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 19

Central Government employees observed the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi today, a day earlier, on the directives of the Union Government.

The day is observed as Sadhbhavna Divas every year as a tribute to the former Prime Minister.

Uttarkashi DM Deependra Kumar Chaudhary said Sadhbhavna Divas was observed today after a fax was received from the Union Government in this regard. The District Information Office, in a press note, said August 20 being a holiday on account of Saturday, Sadhbhavna Divas was observed a day early.

The day was observed on the Collectorate premises where the DM administered an oath to employees to maintain communal harmony and national integration.

He appealed to the employees to work for oneness and harmony of the people of India, regardless of caste, region, religion or language and resolve differences through constitutional means without resorting to violence.

Bhatwadi SDM Vijay Nath Shukla, Disaster Management Officer Devendar Patwal and other officials and district employees attended the function.

State Congress president Jot Singh Bisht said it was unfortunate that the birth anniversary of a leader, who had made the “supreme sacrifice for the nation” had been changed without informing the party.

Bisht said there was no precedence of the Central Government changing the functions for the birth and death anniversaries of leaders belonging to the BJP or its allies. It was quick to do the same with the leaders belonging to the Gandhi family. It showed the NDA Government’s bias against the Gandhi family, he added.