A HARROW MP has called on the government to recognise Diwali and Eid as national holidays across the UK.
Gareth Thomas, the Harrow West MP, told the House of Commons on Wednesday (23) that there was a “need to be a debate in Government time, so that those of us who are sympathetic to the campaign for these two days to be made national public holidays can have our case heard by Ministers.”
At the very least, Thomas said he wants ministers to work with business organisations to be sympathetic to staff requests for time off to mark Eid and Diwali.
Thomas said: “Sunday is Diwali. On Monday, Hindus in my constituency and across the UK will spend time with their families and visit their local temple.
"Diwali, like Eid, however, is not a national public holiday, so for some it will continue to be difficult to get time off to mark this most spiritually significant day. “
He added: “I will continue to campaign for Diwali and Eid to be recognised as nationally significant days in the UK. If Ministers are not prepared to have these days marked out as public holidays, they could at the very least work with business organisations so that those who wish to spend this time with their families and, for example, go to the temple will have the support of their employers to do so”
Thomas is not the only politician urging the government to recognise Eid and Diwali as national holidays.
Conservative MP Bob Blackman had earlier said that the UK should show that it "embraces" the Muslim and Hindu faiths by making Eid and Diwali public holidays.
Damian Talbot
Nirmala Sitharaman speaks at the India-UK Investor Roundtable in London last Wednesday (9). On the panel were India’s department of economic affairs secretary Ajay Seth and Kotak Mahindra Bank founder Uday Kotak
Sitharaman with Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves
Sitharaman with Jonathan Reynolds 
Sitharaman with Reynolds, Alastair King, India’s high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and other delegates