Parliament to observe holiday on December 12

Though divided over the demonetisation debate, Lok Sabha members on Thursday united to declare a holiday on December 12, giving themselves an extended four-day weekend.

Lok Sabha members on Wednesday had urged Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to declare December 12 a holiday as December 13 is a holiday on account of Prophet Muhammad's birthday and December 10 and 11 are the weekend.

The issue was then raised in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on Wednesday, and it was agreed that December 12 will be a holiday.

"BAC recommended that the sitting may be cancelled on account of Milad-un-nabi," the Speaker said, asking if any members had any objection.

The MPs, however, unanimously supported the proposal, after which the Speaker commented: "Everyone is ready for holiday."

The Lok Sabha has been witnessing ruckus and disruptions throughout the winter session with opposition members demanding a debate on demonetisation with voting in the lower house, to which the government has not agreed.

A debate on the issue under Rule 193, which is for a short-duration discussion, began on Monday.

--IANS

ao/ahm/sac