The BJP MP from Mangaldoi Lok Sabha constituency Dilip Saikia on Wednesday urged the central government to declare Assam's Polymath Srimanta Sankardev's birth anniversary as a nationwide holiday.

The MP raised the issue during Parliament's Zero hour session, this afternoon.

The MP also demanded to set up a foundation to carry out the programmes and activities for furthering of Sankardev's ideology and spread his message of social justice to the masses not only in the country but also abroad.

Declaring a nationwide holiday on his birthday would honour the "emotions and sentiments of Assamese and the public at large in NE", Saikia added.

Sankardevwas destined to play a significant role in preaching to humanity and protectinghuman religion. "Ek Sarania Nam Dharma" preached by him believed in worship ofLord Vishnu.

The"Sattras" or the monasteries set by the Vaishnavite saint developed as the hubof religious, spiritual and cultural life of the people of Assam.