Prez didn't want religious observances at Rashtrapati Bhavan: Press secy

June 06, 2018 20:27

President Ram Nath Kovind's press secretary Ashok Malik issues a statement saying that the President had directed in 2017 that there will be no religious observances at Rashtrapti Bhavan as it is a public building.

Malik's statement comes in the wake of several reports in the media about Iftar not being held at Rashtrapati Bhavan this year.

'After the President took office in July 2017, he directed Rashtrapati Bhavan being a public building there would be no religious observances at taxpayer expense. This is in keeping with the principles of a secular state and applies to all festivities, irrespective of religion,' Malik wrote on Twitter.

'Of course the President wishes all fellow citizens on all major religious festivals. Officials and employees living in the President's Estate premises are absolutely free to celebrate any religious festival of their choice in the privacy of their homes.

'President's Estate has religious institutions, such as a temple, a gurudwara and a masjid, erected by and for residents. On major festive occasions, the President does visit these to wish people. For example, he recently visited the masjid to mark the holy month of Ramzan,' he said in a series of tweets.

Iftar was discontinued in Rashtrapati Bhavan when A P J Abdul Kalam was the president between 2002 and 2007.

However, it was resumed when Pratibha Patil succeeded him. Her successor Pranab Mukherjee continued the tradition.

For the first time in several years, carol singing in Rashtrapati Bhavan did not take place in 2017 on Christmas.

Though iftar was discontinued for five years when Kalam was a resident of the majestic monument, carols were sung even then.

Christmas celebrations and Iftar are just two of the many religious festivities that took place in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Diwali, Raksha Bandhan and Holi are some of the other festivals which were celebrated in the president's official residence.

However, Iftar has a distinct place among all the religious celebrations. It is the only festival when the president hosts dinner for the dignitaries. With Kovind as president, Rashtrapati Bhavan will skip all religious festivals.

Diwali celebrations also did not take place last year though the monument was lit with multi-coloured LED bulbs. -- Agencies

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