J&K holiday calendar 2026: July 13, Sheikh Abdullah’s anniversary holidays given a miss yet again
Jammu, Dec 14: Notwithstanding the reiteration of demands by National Conference (NC) leaders vis-à-vis restoration of July 13 and December 5 holidays commemorating the “Martyrs’ Day” and the birth anniversary of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, scrapped post-2019 developments did not figure yet again in the J&K (official) holiday calendar for the year 2026.
Though the issue raised tempers a number of times at different intervals of time in 2025 yet NC, notwithstanding its commitment made in its manifesto and reiteration of it multiple times at different fora, following the formation of government, could not get both the holidays restored.
NC chief spokesperson and its MLA from Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, when contacted by Greater Kashmir on this account, reiterated that the decision and power to declare holidays on such occasions rested with the Centre and not with the elected government.
“It is unfortunate that despite the elected government being in favour, unelected authorities are opposing it. However, the declaration of a holiday on such occasions is no longer within the powers of the elected government; the final decision rests with the Centre,” Tanvir Sadiq said.
Linking the issue to statehood, he asserted that the issue precisely manifested why his party continued to demand its (statehood) restoration. In the same breath, he, however, hastened to add that the holiday, in any way, would not be the yardstick to evaluate the contributions or legacy of the martyrs or Sher-e-Kashmir.
“This is precisely why we continue to demand the restoration of statehood—so that both major and minor decisions can be taken by a democratically elected government. In any case, the declaration of a holiday cannot and should not be the yardstick to judge the contributions or legacy of the martyrs of 13 July or Sher-e-Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah,” NC chief spokesperson asserted.
In fact, the issue had figured in the J&K budget session in March this year as well creating uproar.
On March 5 during the budget session, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators had staged enmasse walkout amid uproarious scenes after the Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather expunged, what he termed as “derogatory remarks of the Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma for the martyrs of July 13, 1931.”
Remarks were expunged by the Speaker as the legislators of NC, Congress, PDP and others (except BJP MLAs), in unison, rose up in arms.
Interestingly, the spectacle unfolded when the National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah was in the visitors’ gallery watching the House proceedings, along with other senior NC leaders.
Issue erupted after PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para sought restoration of the state holiday on July 13.
Para, in his address, had also batted for the resumption of holiday on December 5 - the birth anniversary of NC patriarch Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.
All NC, Congress besides other Kashmir based MLAs, AAP MLA and independents supporting the NC-government had supported the demand.
Later on July 13, another controversy erupted when the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a stunning act, scaled the gate (wall) of martyrs’ graveyard in Srinagar to offer tributes.
CM Omar had accused the Police administration of keeping him and other party leaders under “house arrest” and blocking the gates of Naqshband Sahib graveyard to stop them from offering tributes to the July 13 martyrs.
NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah had reached there in an autorickshaw and Minister for Education Sakina Itoo by riding pillion on a scooty.
