Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of a controversy triggered by a demand from the BMS organisation that Ganageetham be sung, the Chief Postmaster General, Thiruvananthapuram, has directed the cancellation of Christmas celebrations at post offices. Employees’ associations informed, via email, that the Christmas programmes scheduled for Thursday at post offices across the state had been called off.

The Bharatiya Postal Employees Union had submitted a letter demanding that Ganapati stuti and Ganageetham be included in the Christmas–New Year celebrations. This led to protests and a growing controversy.

General Secretary of the Central Government Employees’ Organisation (CCGEW) G R Pramod alleged that the decision to cancel amounted to a surrender before sectarian forces and an attack on the secular traditions of Central Government institutions.