HRD Minister Smriti Irani took to Twitter to lash out against the Times report, noting that an essay competition to mark Good Governance Day would be held online and that participation would be voluntary. Schools would also remain closed on Christmas day, she said.
Dear @timesofindia deliberate mischief by ur reporter on the front page today. All schools closed for XMas, essay competition only online.
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) December 15, 2014
She seemed to be doing a flip-flop. According to the letter issued by her ministry's Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti earlier this month [PDF], schools were asked to mark Good Governance Day by holding quiz competitions, declamation contests and by screening documentaries on "the best practices of good governance". Schools were also asked to send photographs and videos to the ministry, presumably to prove that the events had been conducted.
It isn't clear how declamation contests could be held online, or documentary film screenings, as Irani claimed ‒ or how photographs of online events could be taken.
The HRD ministry later issued a more lengthy clarification saying that since the Navodaya schools are residential, students who remain there will have the opportunity to participate in the essay competition if they wish to. Students of other CBSE schools could participate online, the note said.
The rest of Twitter had a field day.
this #christmas : saffron santa descends from the sky in a vedic chariot with bag full of minimum candies & maximum governance. yum.
— Coke Marx (@rohitinani_) December 15, 2014
Good Governance now a Christmas Gift.
— Tushar A. Gandhi (@TusharG) December 15, 2014
Jesus declares April 1 Smriti Irani Day
— RushdieExplainsIndia (@RushdieExplains) December 15, 2014
"Dear Santa, for Christmas, I want a new HRD Minister..."
— Rohan (@mojorojo) December 15, 2014
HRD minister is in favour of marking Christmas as "Good Governance Day." Can we celebrate Holi as "Good Something Else" day then. WTH!
— kanika gahlaut (@kanikagahlaut) December 15, 2014
So Vajpayee's birthday will be celebrated as Good Governance Day? What is this govt an event management company?
— Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) December 3, 2014
BJP cancels Christmas! Liberals: Communal fascists! BJP says Christmas is not cancelled! Liberals: Yet another U-Turn!
— IndiaSpeaks (@IndiaSpeaksPR) December 15, 2014
not keen on essay writing, but if the hindu right is offering me a ghar wapsi to the western suburbs of bombay for christmas, i'm on.
— Rosie Roti (@supriyan) December 15, 2014
♬ We wish you a Merry Christmas ♬ ♬ We wish you a Merry Christmas ♬ ♬ We wisssshhh you a Merry Christmas ♬ ♬ And Good Governance Day ♬
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) December 15, 2014
Some poor graphic designer in Google is now deleting the Christmas doodle, and breaking his head on creating a Good Governance doodle.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) December 15, 2014
Updated on December 16, 4.40pm, to add HRD ministry note.