An online petition requesting a day off for Hindu festival Diwali and Muslim celebration Eid has attracted more than 119,000 signatures and has three months more to run.
Under the rules of the e-petition scheme, introduced in 2011, once the 100,000 signature mark is passed it should be considered for a House of Commons debate.
The debate will stir controversy because these could become the first non-Christian religious holidays in Britain and could lead to calls from other faiths for similar treatment.
It could also anger nationalists who have complained St George’s Day and St David’s Day are not holidays.
However an e-petition calling for these days to be marked has so far attracted only 34 signatures.
Details of the Eid/Diwali e-petition have been passed to the Backbench Business Committee, which will consider its suitability for debate. Read on and comment » | Geraint Jones | Sunday, June 01, 2014
