Raj order to hold blood donation camps around Eid irks Muslims

The Rajasthan government's order to hold blood donation camps at state-run and private colleges on September 25 -- the birth anniversary of Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay -- has irked Muslim groups, who fear that it is likely to coincide with Bakr Eid celebrations and may lead to cancellation of holiday for Muslim employees.
Opposing the order, several Muslim groups have threatened to approach the High Court if it is not withdrawn.
On September 2, the government's college directorate had issued an order to principals of all government and private colleges in the state asking them to conduct blood donation camps on September 25 and also instructed them to not grant leave to any employee a day before.

The principals were also asked to not allow any employee in their college to leave headquarters on September 24.
As per Muslim groups, the dates are likely to coincide with Eid celebrations and therefore, would mean cancellation of a government holiday for thousands of Muslim employees.
"We demand from the government to withdraw the order, which is unconstitutional and not in the interest of the society. Compulsion to not leave headquarters and not allowing an employee to take leave on September 24 would adversely impact Muslim employees," Mohammad Salim, a scholar, said.

Sawai Singh, state president of Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity, said the government should withdraw the order without any further delay.

"No employee should be compelled for the programme. Every citizen has a right to celebrate his festival and this order is against this," he said at a press conference here.
Singh and Mohammad said they would approach the High Court if the government did not accept their demand.
As per the order, 100 blood donation camps would be organised on September 25 with the participation of all the government each camp.