Lucknow, Jan 4 (DHNS): Uttar Pradesh government has issued a new academic calendar for madrasas (Islamic seminaries) recognised by it reducing the number of annual holidays and making it mandatory for them to remain closed on festivals of Hindus and other religious communities.

According to the official sources here on Wednesday, the number of annual holidays has been reduced from the existing 92 to 86. The weekly holiday for them would, however, remain Friday.

Besides the government has also directed over 16,000 madrasas to hold classes at the same time, sources said.

The number of annual holidays for Eid has been reduced from 46 days to 42. The winter holidays have also been reduced from 13 to 10 days.

The Islamic seminaries would now remain closed on Holi, Diwali, Dussehra, Rakshabandhan, Buddh Purnima and Mahavir Jayanti, sources said.

The government has also cancelled the madrassa management's authority for discretionary holidays for ten days on special occasions.

While the government said that the directive was aimed at bringing uniformity in madrasa education and other normal schools, the Islamic seminaries have decried the decision and said that they were being discriminated.

''We have no objection to the closure on Hindu festivals but the government should not cancel discretionary holidays,'' said the manager of a local madrasa here.

The government had earlier made singing of the national anthem mandatory for madrasas on national holidays and also to videograph the event.