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Modi's new year diktat to ministers: no vacations, there's work to be done

Sameer Chougaonkar | Updated on: 14 February 2017, 3:04 IST

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is traveling to Europe to celebrate the new year, but central ministers and BJP leaders won't be as lucky.

In all likelihood, they will be working on the new year weekend.

Strict instructions issued by the Prime Ministers' Office have scuttled new year plans for many prominent ministers and BJP leaders.

According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed all ministers to work like normal days during the new year weekend.

Also read: 2015: How Modi lost his sheen this year

This means that when people will be busy with new year celebrations, Modi's ministers will either be working in their respective ministries or spending time in their constituencies.

The directive has cited the Prime Minister's example who has not taken a single vacation in the 19 months he has been in office. It says that ministers are expected to follow his example and refrain from new year revelry.

Last year, many central ministers were found taking part in corporate-style bashes during the new year. It is said to have invited the Prime Minister's ire.

But things are different this time. Many central ministers will not be taking a break this weekend. Some others have shortened their break to a day or two.

Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Law Minister Sadananda Gowda and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu will work as usual during the first week of the new year. HRD Minister Smriti Irani, Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of Road Transport Nitin Gadkari have shortened their holidays.

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The decree seems to have had an impact on other BJP leaders as well. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is known to take a week's leave every new year. But he has decided to cancel his vacation this time. Similarly, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis has cut short his vacation to just one day.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar have also declared that they refrin from new year celebrations.

BJP president Amit Shah has also decided to lead by example in this regard. He will spend the new year weekend dealing with routine party affairs. He has also told other party office bearers to follow suit. All party legislators have also been instructed to spend the new year by listening to people's problems.

Also read: Declining exports, few jobs, falling rupee: Is this growth, Mr Jaitley?

First published: 30 December 2015, 12:29 IST