Lucknow, Dec. 24 -- Schools in Uttar Pradesh will remain open during Christmas this year, after the state government announced the day will instead be celebrated to mark the birth centenary of the co-founder of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

According to the order issued by the state's Department of Basic Education on Monday, December 22, the schools were directed to organise special programmes honouring the former Prime Minister instead of issuing a public holiday for Christmas, making attendance mandatory for all students.

The move was reportedly influenced by a memorandum submitted by Bajrang Dal members in Saharanpur, demanding that the day be celebrated as "Bal Gaurav (child pride) and Good Governance," rat...