NC promises: ‘These important holidays will be restored one day’
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief spokesperson & MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq on Monday condemned the exclusion of holidays which include commemorating the death anniversary of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and Martyrs’ Day.
In a statement issued here, Tanvir expressed disappointment over the BJP’s recent decision regarding the list of holidays in Kashmir. “This decision blatantly disregards Kashmir’s rich history and the ongoing democratic struggle of its people,” he said.
The NC chief spokesperson added, “We had hoped to see holidays commemorating revered leaders such as Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and the martyrs of July 13th included in the list. However, their absence does not diminish their significance or the enduring legacy they have left behind. Rest assured, these important holidays will be restored one day.”
NC failed to honour its promises: PDP
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed shock and dismay over the exclusion of July 13 Martyrs’ Day from the list of gazetted holidays for 2025.
The party in a statement issued here accused the National Conference (NC)-led government of backtracking on its promises made ahead of the Assembly elections.
PDP General Secretary Mohammad Khurshid Alam criticised the omission of both July 13 Martyrs’ Day and December 05, the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, from the official holiday calendar. He described the decision as a betrayal of the aspirations of the people who had voted en masse for the NC in the hope of better representation of their sentiments.
“July 13, 1931, is a historic day—not just for the people of Kashmir but for anyone who believes in standing up to autocratic rule and speaking truth to power. The removal of this holiday is a blow to the collective memory and emotions of the Kashmiri people,” Alam said.
He accused the NC-led government of failing to honour its promises, despite receiving a massive mandate from the people. “The people of Kashmir didn’t vote for the NC to organise ski festivals at tourist resorts. They voted to see their beliefs and aspirations respected and their concerns amplified in a just and democratic manner,” he added.
The PDP leader slammed the government’s “pin-drop silence” over the issue, calling it a failure to stand by the cultural and historical legacy of the region.
Attempt to distort history: CPI(M)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Monday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor administration’s decision to continue with the status quo of abolishing holidays on Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s birthday and Martyrs’ Day on July 13, terming it as “an attempt to distort history”.
“Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was a towering personality, and his contribution to the freedom struggle and empowerment of the people of J&K cannot be ignored. The empowerment of people we see today came through decisions like Land-to-Tiller without compensation, Education for All, and the empowerment of women, which resulted from that movement,” Tarigami said in a statement issued here. “To downgrade such a towering personality is a distortion of history.”
The CPI(M) said it is very unfortunate that July 13 and December 5 have been dropped from the list of holidays for the 2025 calendar year. “July 13 holds immense historical significance for J&K, as it commemorates the sacrifice of those who laid down their lives protesting against autocratic rule and advocating for human dignity,” he said.
Similarly, December 05, Sheikh Sahib’s birthday, is of great importance, Tarigami said. “Sheikh Sahib and his colleagues made great contributions toward empowering people by democratizing society, implementing radical land reforms, introducing free education, and empowering women as part of the Naya Kashmir manifesto,” he said.
“Attempts to erase such pivotal milestones from our collective memory undermine the values they represent. Distorting history this way will serve no purpose,” the MLA added
The CPI(M) leader said the attempt is being made to further divide people. “By such decisions, the administration has insulted the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He appealed to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to “unitedly resist such divisive policies of the central government”.
These holidays represent public sentiment, says PDF
People’s Democratic Front (PDF) chairman Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Monday expressed his disappointment over the omission of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s birthday on December 5 and Martyrs’ Day on July 13 from the official holiday list for 2025.
He said while the holiday calendar includes a diverse array of national and religious observances—such as Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birthday (January 6), Republic Day (January 26), Eid-ul-Fitr (March 31), Independence Day (August 15), and Diwali (October 21)—the absence of these two significant dates has deeply hurt the sentiments of the majority of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, Yaseen highlighted the importance of both days in the socio-political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, saying Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was a towering leader who played a crucial role in the region’s “freedom struggle” and social awakening. “The continued omission of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s birthday and Martyrs’ Day from the holiday list reflects a narrow-minded perspective and arrogance from the Raj Bhawan, especially considering that the Omar-led government had already submitted a proposal to reinstate the December 5 holiday to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, which appears to have been summarily rejected,” he said.
Hakeem raised concerns about the implications of these exclusions for power-sharing between the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government. “The inclusion of these holidays is a public sentiment rather than a demand from any particular political party. This issue should not be entangled in complex power dynamics, as it is a matter of public significance,” the PDF chief said.
