BJP Chief Daggubati Purandeswari demands holiday in Andhra Pradesh on Jan 22

Andhra Pradesh BJP chief Daggubati Purandeswari on Thursday demanded the state government to declare a holiday on January 22 to celebrate the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. She slammed the Andhra government under Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and said it had failed to take part in the nationwide celebrations by not declaring a holiday on January 22.

Purandeswari said the construction of the Ram Mandir was a centuries-old dream and the result of a decades-long fight. She added that several other states have declared a holiday on the day of the consecration ceremony but the Andhra Pradesh government has not made any such



announcements.

The Andhra Pradesh BJP chief also added that private educational institutions have already announced a holiday on January 22.

Purandeswari also criticised the state government after the Makar Sankranti break for students was extended for two more days till January 20. As January 21 is a Sunday, the schools will reopen on January 22. Earlier, the Sankranti break was only from January 9 to January 18.

"Jagan's government giving holidays only till January 21 means they have an ulterior intention. Even though a holiday was to be declared on the 22nd, the holiday was deliberately not given on that day," said Purandeswari.