May Day not a public holiday in Tripura

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Tripura has caused a fresh stir by removing International Labour Day, or May Day, from its list of State holidays, and making it a “restricted” or optional holiday. May Day has been a public holiday in the State since 1978 when the former Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front government first assumed power.

“Celebrating May Day is a right that we have earned. It cannot be a restricted holiday. A restricted holiday is when it is a religious occasion for any group or community, like Bhratri Dwitiya, etc. But May Day is an international event irrespective of caste, creed, religion and country. The State government cannot snatch this right away from the people,” said Maink Dey, former CPI(M) Minister, speaking to Frontline .. The CPI(M) has hit the streets staging rallies and processions in protest against the State government’s decision.

The CPI(M)’s old political adversary, the Tripura Pradesh Congress, has also condemned the move. “May Day does not belong to any particular party. It is something that is celebrated internationally for the labour force and the working class. A government that is only keen on protecting the interests of the Adanis and the Ambanis, cannot be expected to honour May Day. We oppose this decision and we urge the government to declare it as a State holiday again,” said Tapas Dey, Tripura Congress vice president.

The State government, however, dismissed allegations that it was a move to undermine the working class and the communist movement and pointed out that Tripura was not the only State where May Day was not a government holiday.  Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, told Frontline : “There are many States that do not have May Day as a holiday, and, besides, we have put it in the list of restricted holidays. Anyone who wants to take leave on that day can do so. There are a large number of indigenous festivals and pujas that were overlooked for so long, and we have put them up on the list of holidays in honour of the tribal people here.”