NC, PDP and BJP spar over Kashmir holiday row

Srinagar, Jan 01: The exclusion of holidays on December 5 and July 13 has generated a debate as different views are emerging from the political parties on the issue following the issuance of a government calendar of holidays.

The debate has emerged days after the J&K Government issued a calendar of holidays for the year 2025 in which the holiday on December 5 and July 13 was omitted.

The move took everybody by surprise as the J&K NC led government had earlier claimed that December 5 will be included in the government list of holidays.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, National Conference Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq in a veiled attack at BJP said those opposing holiday on December 5 should explain why a holiday is given on the day of Maharaja.

"Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Adbullah was not only CM, he was the most respected statesman of this state. You cannot keep him just as the Chief Minister. He has been the Prime Minister of this Country. He took the revolutionary decision of Land to Tiller. He contributed to schools and colleges. Sher-i-Kashmir does not need a holiday but the feelings of the people here are attached to it. We want to keep it like it used to be before," Tanvir Sadiq said.

He flanked advisor to J&K CM Nasir Aslam Wani and said the next 5th of December will be the holiday of Sher-e-Kashmir. "The holiday on 13th of July will definitely happen as well," he said.

He further said the NC government will fulfill all the promises that have been made to the people of J&K.

"We pray to Allah that he gives us the courage to fulfill the promises we have made to the people. It has only been two months since the government has started working. By March, all the commitments and promises made by the government will be fulfilled including free 200 units of electricity," he said.

PDP senior leader Khurshid Alam told Greater Kashmir that it was a matter of great concern that two important days of Jammu and Kashmir have been excluded in the calendar of holidays.

"December 5 which is observed as the birth anniversary and most importantly July 13 which is associated with the hearts and emotions of the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been excluded," PDP leader said.

"In any nation or in any state of India, if anyone was martyred in the freedom movement, the sacrifice is respected there. The martyrs of July 13 were fighting against autocracy which was also a part of the struggle for freedom in India. But unfortunately they were shown disrespect without any reason," he said.

He said the National Conference betrayed the sentiment of the people and made no efforts to include these two days in the list of holidays despite having a "big mandate."

"The government was expected to correct the mistakes of the past five years but it failed to deliver on ground. These are not financial matters, these are emotional matters. The history of any nation is a matter of pride," Khurhid Alam said.

Reacting to the NC's statement that December 5 will be included as a holiday from the next year, PDP leader said martyrs of July 13 were equally important.

"We welcome the NC statement on holiday for Sheikh Sahib but the importance of the martyrs of July 13 is no less than anything else," he said.

Earlier, BJP spokesperson for Kashmir, Altaf Thakur earlier said that J&K will go on vacation if the government announces a holiday on every CM's birth or death anniversary.

"Sheikh Abdullah Sahib has been the CM of J&K, Mufti Sahib was also CM, Mir Qasim Sahib was also the PM, Sadiq Sahib has been the PM. If Sheikh Abdullah Sahib's birthday is observed as a holiday why not other CMS," he said.

He said announcing a holiday on the death and birth anniversary of CMs will disturb the economy of the country. "The academic calendar will also be disturbed. BJP welcomes the J&K LGs decision to exclude December 5 from the list of holidays," Altaf Thakur said.