You’re not labourers, don’t need May Day off: CM to Tripura staff
AGARTALA: Amidst a controversy over dropping International Workers Rights Day or May Day from the list of state government holidays, Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb has told government employees that they do not need a holiday on the day as they are not “labourers or workers”.
“Are you people in the secretariat labourers? Am I a labourer? No, I am the chief minister. You view official files. Are you working in the industrial sector? No, you don’t. Then why do you require holiday on that day? What do you want to mourn?” Deb said at a programme of the Gazetted Officers’ Sangh in Agartala on Sunday.
Last week, the BJP government in Tripura decided to designate May 1 as a restricted holiday.
Deb said May Day is only for workers and added that the BJP- IPFT government in the state has therefore decided only to give a holiday to those in the industrial sector.
Other state government employees may still opt for it, because it is a restricted holiday, but the government will make a note of those who do so. Deb warned.
The opposition CPI(M) has demanded that the government withdraw its decision.
“The day has been a holiday in the state since the first Left Front government came to power in 1978. We demand the government to withdraw its decision,” said CPM leader Haripada Das.