Holiday cancelled on Kanshiram`s death anniversary; BSP slams UP govt

The BSP criticised the Akhilesh Yadav-led UP govt for cancelling the public holiday on the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshiram on October 9.

New Delhi: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Sunday criticised the Akhilesh Yadav-led Uttar Pradesh Government for cancelling the public holiday on the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshiram on October 9.

BSP leader Sudhindra Bhadoria said the decision reflected the narrow mindedness of the state government. "It is reflective of their narrow mindedness. They think that people wouldn`t come if the holiday was cancelled. There would a massive crow and people would pay their respect to late Kanshi Ram. Thousands of workers like me, from Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country, would assemble there after call given by Mayawati," Bhadoria added. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Akhilesh Yadav should devote his energy in positive works rather than indulging in negative things. "The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh is a young man. He should use his energy in positive works. It would enhance his as well as well the government reputation. These are negative things to break some one`s statue and cancel a public holiday granted by a previous government in honour of a great leader," said BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in New Delhi. Kanshiram, born on March 15, 1934, founded the BSP in 1984 and died on 9 October 2006. The BSP, after assuming power in 2007, had notified a holiday under negotiable instrument act on Nirvan Diwas (death anniversary) of Kanshiram. Another holiday - but not under negotiable instrument act - was declared on Kanshiram``s birthday, on March 15. ANI