This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Centre Gives In To AIADMK's Demands, Declares Pongal As Compulsory Holiday

Sasikala or Chinnamma, had urged the Central Government to roll back the announcement of Pongal as restricted holiday.
Getty Images

CHENNAI -- In a major boost to the ruling All India Anna Dravida Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Centre on Tuesday finally caved in to their demands and declared Pongal festival as a compulsory holiday.

According to the AIADMK official Twitter handle, party general secretary V.K. Sasikala or Chinnamma as popularly called among followers, had urged the Central Government to roll back the announcement of Pongal as restricted holiday.

"Following the efforts taken by the general secretary of AIADMK respected Chinnamma, who in her statement urged the Central Government to roll back the announcement of Pongal as restricted holidays, the Central Government has today declared the festival as compulsory holiday. Tamil speaking people across the globe thanked, respected Chinnamma profusely for her efforts and said the good governance of Amma is still continuing," it said.

This development comes a day after Central Government changed the status of the Pongal holidays from compulsory to restricted.

On Monday, Sasikala had termed the Centre's move to convert the Pongal holiday into a restricted one as a "big shock", following which she urged the Centre to review its decision.

Also on HuffPost India

Hola Mohalla festival

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.