The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Goa has declared May 10th a paid holiday for all private establishments and industrial workers. This holiday has been granted in anticipation of the upcoming Assembly polls in neighbouring Karnataka, which are scheduled to take place on the same day.
The Pramod Sawant government’s decision to declare a public holiday on December 25th has not been met with approval by Opposition parties and industry bodies. Goa State Industries Association has stated that they may have to take legal action against the holiday.
The government issued a statement on Monday declaring 10th May as a paid holiday to accommodate the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in Karnataka. The holiday applies to government staff and employees of private establishments, including industrial workers.
Damodar Kochkar, President of Goa’s State Industries Association, has expressed his confusion and concern with the state government’s “absurd” decision.
He questioned the reasoning behind it, voicing his concern for the detrimental effects this could have on the state’s economy.
Industries in Goa are outraged over the recent decision of the state government, which they feel is “absurd and stupid” and is being taken “for electoral gains”. According to Kochkar, they are considering legal action against the “unilateral” decision.
The president of the Goa division of the Aam Aadmi Party, Amit Palekar, severely criticized the governing body of the state for their “absurd choice”.
A spokesperson from the Chief Minister’s Office in Goa has stated that it is customary to give a day off from work when there are elections being held in neighbouring regions. The official cited the example of last year when a holiday was declared in Karnataka on the day of polling in Goa.
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