Thank god, it's a holiday

Government servants have been spared work on at least one holiday this year. In 2014, they had to turn up for the cleanliness drive that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led by example on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, a gazetted holiday, as also to mark the Yoga Day on June 21, a Saturday. This year, October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first home minister of independent India, is on a Saturday. The National Democratic Alliance government observes it as National Unity Day. On that day, the PM will garland Patel's statue, located a kilometre from Parliament, participate in a 'run for unity' from Vijay Chowk to India Gate and administer a pledge. Fortunately for government servants, they have been asked to take the pledge today. A government source said the leadership was mindful of not asking government servants to turn up on their off day to take part in the run and take the pledge.