UP students asked to attend school on 17 September, a Sunday, to celebrate Narendra Modi's birthday

Students from 1.6 lakh government primary schools in Uttar Pradesh will have to attend school on 17 September which incidentally happens to be a Sunday. Why? Because it’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

In order to celebrate his birthday, schools have been directed to remain open and with compulsory attendance for students, reported  The Times Of India . Anupma Jaiswal, minister of state for basic education (independent charge), added that BJP MLAs in the state will go to one school each and participate in the celebration while taking stock of the facilities in the schools. “MLAs who have adopted schools in their region will go there and promote Prime Minister Modi’s message of cleanliness as a part of the celebrations,” she said.

However, according to  The Economic Times , party MLAs have been instructed to pick one school and visit them a day before (16 September) Modi’s birthday or a day after (17 September) since it falls on a Sunday.

One of Modi’s pet projects Swachh Bharat will be the driving force of Modi’s birthday celebrations in schools in Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh. MLAs are expected to distribute sweets amongst students and talk about the prime minister’s vision of India and programmes like Swachh Bharat, reported The Economic Times. 

Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson Chandramohan called Modi an inspirational figure to all. “He is a perfect icon for children because he has led a life full of hardship and today he is the most powerful man in the world’s largest democracy,” he was quoted as saying by The Times Of India.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had cancelled 15 public holidays marking the death or birth of famous personalities in April 2017. “There should be no holidays in schools on birth anniversaries of great personalities. Instead, a special two- hour programme should be held to teach students about them. The 220-day academic session has been reduced to only 120 days due to such holidays and if this tradition continues, there will be no day left for teaching in schools,” quoted  Hindustan Times  minister Shrikant Sharma as saying.

Most recently, the Union human resource development ministry sent a directive to all educational institutions to observe a ‘cleanliness fortnight’ 1-15 September, according to this  Hindustan Times  report.