The Manipur government on Thursday amended its order declaring Good Friday to be a working day, after protests from Christian organisations in the state, The Imphal Free Press reported.
Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla had said Good Friday would be a working day for all government offices and financial institutions so that pending bills and cheques in government treasuries are cleared before the end of the financial year on March 31.
However, after several Christian groups criticised the order, Ng Roben Singh, a joint secretary in the General Administration Department, said the government had amended the order, and only financial institutions and banks linked to state treasuries would work on Good Friday. Singh said the directive had been modified considering the “sentiments associated with March 30 being Good Friday”.
Before the government amended the order, the Manipur Christian Organisation President Prim Vaiphei had condemned it and said the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s treatment of Christians was unfortunate. He said the Centre had previously declared Christmas day as Good Governance Day, and Good Friday in 2017 as Digital India Day. “We do not like to be against anyone, but if the situation compels us, we will agitate,” Vaiphei said.
Timothy Phaomei, the chairperson of Love Manipur, the prayer wing of the All Manipur Christian Organisation, said social and political harmony in the state was being disturbed by such government orders.
Meanwhile, the Assam government also issued a similar notification under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, on Thursday, saying all banks would remain open on Friday to clear cheques and bills before the end of the fiscal year, PTI reported.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!