London, June 1 (IANS) An online petition to the British House of Commons has urged the politicians to create a bank holiday for Hindu Diwali and Muslim Eid festival in the country, a media report said.
The petition has 119,000 signatures and could be debated in the British parliament as the e-petition with over 100,000 signatures qualifies to be considered in the parliament under the rules of e-petition scheme in 2011, Daily Mail reported Sunday.
The two holidays would be the first non-Christian religious holidays in Britain and could lead to calls from other faiths for their events to also be recognised.
Details of the petition are said to have been passed to the Backbench Business Committee of the British House of Commons, which will consider its suitability for debate.
The petition, titled "Make Eid & Diwali Public Holidays", set up by Jon Timmis said: "I believe that, given the number of Muslims and Hindus in this country it is only fair we allow them to have the most important days in their faiths recognised in law."
Diwali is known as the "Festival of Lights" , while Eid is held at the end of Ramadan when Muslims break their fast.
The e-petition has sparked widespread debate on internet forums and social media, especially those aimed at British Muslims and Hindus, the report said.
The religious and community leaders have distanced themselves from the idea, it added.
Britain has eight bank holidays every year, the second lowest in the world behind Mexico.
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