THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), in a statement issued on January 20, has condemned the announcement of a holiday for government offices, institutions, and industrial establishments on January 22, 2024. This decision, made by the government at the centre and in some states, is criticised by CITU as an abuse of power, which constitutes a gross violation of the principles of secularism enshrined in the constitution and emphasized by the Supreme Court. The Court has mandated that governments should refrain from aligning with any specific religion. The declaration of a holiday for the celebration of the consecration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya is a direct contradiction to these principles, CITU said.

CITU said that this is yet another ploy of the RSS-BJP government to incite communal tensions, and impose majoritarianism over the constitutionally established secular State apparatus. It is viewed as an attempt to deepen polarisation of the society through divisive mechanisms.

These abuses of power and actions, in clear violation of the constitutional ethos, are efforts to divert the focus of the working class and the interests of the people. CITU emphasizes the need for a united political and ideological fight to uphold the foundational principles of a modern India rooted in secularism, integrity, and harmony across all sections of society.