Good governance daily

The promise of good governance is what brought Narendra Modi to power, so observing one day of the year as Good Governance Day in the country does not make much sense. Choosing the day of Christmas celebrations for it makes even less so. And is invoking Atal Behari Vajpayee's name to justify the move, since December 25 is his birthday, more a service or a disservice to a man who would most probably have baulked at the idea? The HRD Ministry's retreat, after a furore over its circular asking educational institutions to hold various events on the day, made for better reading than the original text.
More than the content, it's the intent of the government that has come under scrutiny. While some Christian organisations see in it a divisive agenda, for most people, the very idea of being asked to show up, or forgo leave, or make a customary appearance on a 'holy day' in the holiday season defies logic. What would taking a pledge in such a way amount to? On a sarcastic note, such is the distrust that government officials have managed to accumulate for themselves over the years that the sight of them being forced to go to office, work or no work, on a closed day in the biting cold would delight several Indians, but surely that cannot be the purpose behind the decision.
The controversy over observing the Good Governance Day on Christmas has not only wasted the precious time of Parliament, but also served as a reminder to the government to respect the overwhelming mandate it received at the hustings and avoid needless controversies. Leave aside the choice of the day, good governance every day is what is expected of it, not symbolic gestures which, besides leaving a sour taste, also give rise to issues that can only be an impediment to governance, not an aid. Celebrate Vajpayee's contribution to the nation by all means, but in a way that unites, not divides. That celebrates, not questions.