Panaji: In a decision that could spark nationwide outrage, the BJP government in Goa has dropped Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 from the list of public holidays.

The date has not been marked as a holiday in the current year’s calendar, released on Saturday.

However, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said it could be an act of “mischief” or a “typing mistake”.

The decision has triggered strong reactions from a section of legislators in the state.

Independent opposition legislator Vijay Sardesai said it was all the more surprising that dropping of the Gandhi Jayanti came just the day after the Mahatma’s statue was unveiled at Parliament Square in London.

“Is this nationalism or the BJP’s sense of civility?” he asked.

When Manohar Parrikar was the Chief Minister of Goa, the government had sought to scrap a few public holidays, including Gandhi Jayanti, Good Friday and Old Goa Feast, but had to give up the move due to public outcry.

Strongly opposing the BJP-ruled state’s decision, senior Congress leader P.C. Chacko said, “BJP's mindset is a very sick mindset. ... Can any state government take a decision like this? This kind of decision they have taken is anti-national.”

No government in India has the right to do that. This is a very senseless decision, which they have taken, he added.