New Delhi: Education minister Smriti Irani has denied a newspaper report that CBSE schools might have to remain open on Christmas Day.
"Deliberate mischief by ur reporter on the front page today. All schools closed for XMas, essay competition only online," the minister tweeted.
Amidst Opposition uproar over reports of schools being ordered to remain open on Christmas Day to observe 'Good Governance Day', Government Monday clarified that no such instruction has been issued and only an online essay competition on the subject is being organised.
"The report is factually false," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in Rajya Sabha after Opposition parties raised the issue.
HRD Minister Smriti Irani "has informed me that no such instruction has been issued, no school will function (that day). Only an online essay competition (is being organised). That's all," Jaitley said.
Raising the issue, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said there are reports that schools have been asked to remain open on December 25 to observe Good Governance Day.
"There are orders from the government," he said.