JAIPUR: To inculcate patriotism and discipline among the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) employees, city mayor Ashok Lahoti has made it mandatory for all staff members to sing national anthem every morning and the national song, Vande Mataram, every evening.
As per the order that came into effect from Tuesday, the national anthem will be played at 9.50am and the national song at 5.55pm every day at the JMC headquarters. On the first day, more than 350 JMC employees, including BJP party workers and councilors, sang the national anthem before beginning the day's work.
On the occasion, Lahoti said, "This initiative will spread peace and harmony, along with patriotism, among employees. This would also help in developing the habit of reaching office on time and staying at the work place till the office closes."
Responding to reporters' queries about opposition to the move, mayor Lahoti said, "We are not asking to raise any religious slogan. If someone wants to oppose the national anthem and the national song of the country where one resides, the person is free to do so. But the person should then go to Pakistan."
Mayor's statement invited sharp criticism from the Congress and triggered a debate on patriotism.
Congress spokesperson Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said, "No one can dictate us to go to Pakistan. We don't have to prove our patriotism to anyone. To divert residents' attention from development issues, the BJP party is adopting these methods."
Umar Daraj, a senior Congress councilor at JMC, said, "Every community and religious group, including Muslims, staying in this country respect national anthem and national song. The city mayor is making such statements for cheap publicity. In his tenure, JMC has totally failed to carry out development works. To hide his incapability, the mayor is taking to such publicity stunts."
Mayor Lahoti, on the other hand, announced that by the end of this month, the national anthem and the national song would be begin to be played mandatorily at all zonal offices of JMC and the fire stations too.
Lahoti also cleared that employees will not have to assemble at one place every time to sing national anthem and national song. "The anthem and song would be played on speakers put up at around JMC premises and the staff does not need to assemble at one place. Also, just first stanza of the national song would be played on speakers in the evening and the employees can then go home," added Lahoti.
Many at the JMC believed the mayor was trying to hit two birds with a stone. Other than receiving appreciation from the senior BJP leaders for the initiative, he has tightened the noose on JMC employees who are infamous for coming late to the office. In a surprise inspection conducted by the mayor on March 13 this year, nearly 85% JMC officials were found absent from work. The inspection was carried out at 9.45 am.
As per the order that came into effect from Tuesday, the national anthem will be played at 9.50am and the national song at 5.55pm every day at the JMC headquarters. On the first day, more than 350 JMC employees, including BJP party workers and councilors, sang the national anthem before beginning the day's work.
On the occasion, Lahoti said, "This initiative will spread peace and harmony, along with patriotism, among employees. This would also help in developing the habit of reaching office on time and staying at the work place till the office closes."
Responding to reporters' queries about opposition to the move, mayor Lahoti said, "We are not asking to raise any religious slogan. If someone wants to oppose the national anthem and the national song of the country where one resides, the person is free to do so. But the person should then go to Pakistan."
Mayor's statement invited sharp criticism from the Congress and triggered a debate on patriotism.
Congress spokesperson Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said, "No one can dictate us to go to Pakistan. We don't have to prove our patriotism to anyone. To divert residents' attention from development issues, the BJP party is adopting these methods."
Umar Daraj, a senior Congress councilor at JMC, said, "Every community and religious group, including Muslims, staying in this country respect national anthem and national song. The city mayor is making such statements for cheap publicity. In his tenure, JMC has totally failed to carry out development works. To hide his incapability, the mayor is taking to such publicity stunts."
Mayor Lahoti, on the other hand, announced that by the end of this month, the national anthem and the national song would be begin to be played mandatorily at all zonal offices of JMC and the fire stations too.
Lahoti also cleared that employees will not have to assemble at one place every time to sing national anthem and national song. "The anthem and song would be played on speakers put up at around JMC premises and the staff does not need to assemble at one place. Also, just first stanza of the national song would be played on speakers in the evening and the employees can then go home," added Lahoti.
Many at the JMC believed the mayor was trying to hit two birds with a stone. Other than receiving appreciation from the senior BJP leaders for the initiative, he has tightened the noose on JMC employees who are infamous for coming late to the office. In a surprise inspection conducted by the mayor on March 13 this year, nearly 85% JMC officials were found absent from work. The inspection was carried out at 9.45 am.
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