BJP MP Parvesh Verma wants Children's Day to be cnahged to December 26 | Photo Credit: BCCL

New Delhi: Fifty-nine MPs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have signed a letter written by West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma seeking to change November 14 as children's day. He has suggested that December 26, the day of martyrdom of 'Sahabzades', the sons of Sikh Guru Gobind Singh be observed as Children's Day. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Verma has suggested that November 14 be celebrated as Chaha Diwas, in memory of late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

“14 November can be attributed as "UNCLE DAY" or "CHACHA DIWAS" instead of children's day as Shri Jawaharlal Nehru was fondly known as CHACHA NEHRU,” he has said in a letter titled Celebration of Bal Diwas in the name of Sahibzades on 26th December. He has questioned the celebration of the day as Children's Day just on the basis of the fact that the former PM was fond of children. When two sons of Guru Gobind Singh had given up their lives for the country on that day. It is learnt that Verma is seeking support from more MPs on the matter.

It may be noted that the day marks the anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. In case the government decides to accept Verma's memorandum and change the date to December 26, it may need to issue a gazette notification and bring about amendments in the existing legal framework that mark November 14 as the day. Verma is likely to submit an official letter to the Prime Minister's Office.