Mumbai: Maharashtra's newly appointed Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on Sunday said that all state government officials will have to say "Vande Mataram" instead of "Hello" when answering the phone calls in offices.
"We are entering the 76th year of independence. We (Azadi KA) are celebrating Amrit Mahotsav. So I want officers to say 'Vande Mataram' instead of 'Hello' when picking up the phone," said Mungantiwar.
He further informed me that the official government order in this regard will be out by August 18.
"I want all government officials of the state to say 'Vande Mataram' by January 26 next year (on picking up the phone)," the minister said.
The country is celebrating its 76th Independence Day today and on this occasion, events are being held all over the country and the tricolor is being hoisted.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today allocated the portfolios to newly appointed ministers in the state cabinet with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra bagging major roles and ministries.
As per reports, Shinde will be responsible for general administration, urban development, Information, and Public Relations, Public Works Department, and several other major portfolios not allocated to other ministers.
Meanwhile, Fadnavis will be looking after Home, Finance and Planning, Law and Justice, Water Resources and Command Area Development, Housing, Energy, and Protocol.
Besides this, senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil was allotted higher and technical education, textile industry, and parliamentary work while Ravindra Chavhan was assigned the Ministry of Public Works (excluding Public Enterprises), Food and Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection.
Apart from these ministers, other major departments were allocated to BJP leaders such as Girish Mahajan as chief of Village Development and Panchayati Raj development, Medical Education, Sports, and Youth Welfare.
Also watch: