The Hindu : U.P. revokes order

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 21, 2004

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U.P. revokes order

By J.P. Shukla

LUCKNOW, FEB. 20. The Uttar Pradesh Government has withdrawn the order of closure of educational institutions on Fridays after 12 noon, the Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, told the Assembly today.

The Government has, however, issued a directive authorising the District Magistrates to apply their discretion in consultation with the District Inspector of Schools and Basic Shiksha Adhikari concerned to take decision at the local level to close schools for Friday prayers.

The directive would be applicable wherever necessary, especially in areas having a substantial Muslim population.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had threatened to launch an agitation seeking the withdrawal of the order, which said that schools under the Government control would function for half a day on Fridays.

As the Assembly began its sitting today, the BJP members demanded that the order be withdrawn. They entered into the well of the House raising slogans and the Speaker, Kesrinath Tripathi, adjourned the House till the end of question hour.

As the House assembled again, the Chief Minister said it was not proper to issue the directive and promised to make a statement on the issue later in the day. He announced the withdrawal of the order at the conclusion of his two-hour reply to the debate on the State budget.

Mr. Yadav also announced a new policy to for speedy industrial development of the State, besides making several other announcements, an important one being increasing the monthly remuneration and other benefits availed of by the legislators, Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chairman of the Legislative Council and his deputy. Mr. Yadav announced various facilities for the members of the zilla panchayats, their chairpersons and also the chairpersons of Block Development Committees.

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