Maintain vigil on Christmas, New Year: MHA to states

In view of New Year and Christmas celebrations, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday issued an advisory to all states to maintain utmost vigil to prevent any untoward incident.

The ministry also advised the state administration to take measures to ensure peace, including crowd control and maintenance of law and order.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had, yesterday, said that an advisory was issued to the states to ensure law and order during Christmas in the wake of fringe elements threatening Christians against celebrating the festival.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 54th-anniversary parade of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on Saturday, Singh said: "Any festival, whether it is Christmas, Ramzan, Holi or Diwali, should be celebrated without any problems. Strict action will be taken if anyone tries to create ruckus during the festivals.India is the only country that believes in 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', a philosophy that inculcates an understanding that the whole world is one family. "I believe that all people irrespective of any religion should celebrate each other's festivals in its true spirit with full enthusiasm."

On December 17, a right-wing group in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, issued a circular, threatening the management of all city schools against celebrating Christmas. If they do, it will be "at their own risk," it said.