Abdullah vs Hari Singh holiday row hits J&K House, highway curbs add to tensions

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir assembly on the second day of the ongoing autumn session witnessed noisy scenes after an NC MLA demanded that either the holiday on the birth and death anniversaries of party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah be restored or the holiday on the anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh falling on September 23, be cancelled.

The BJP legislators objected to the assertions of the NC MLA, Abdul Majid Larmi from southern Kashmir and briefly walked out of the house in protest raising slogans in favor of the Dogra ruler of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

At the start of the question hour Larmi demanded that public holidays should be restored on the birth and death and anniversaries of NC founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah for his immense contribution to the region.


“Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah has made an immense contribution and we need to restore public holidays on his birth and death anniversaries. Or else cancel the public holiday on the birth anniversary of Dogra ruler Hari Singh as well,” said Larmi triggering a sharp response from the BJP legislators, all of whom have won from the Jammu division, a native place of the dogra rulers. NC chief whip Mubarak Gul said the demand for holiday on Abdullah's anniversary is the party's stand. "The NC government was there for many years. But, we did not change any name or cancel holidays," he said.

Devyani Rana of BJP walked out of the house raising slogans "Maharaja Hari Singh Amar Rahe." The BJP legislators stated that Dogra rulers had made great contributions towards the development and education of the region.

Following the abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A) and downgrading of erstwhile state of J&K into the two Union territories of J&K and Ladakh in August 2019, the then administration dropped the birth anniversary of National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, falling on December 5, from the official holiday list as well as the Martyr’s Day falling on July 13th.

On July 13, 1931 at least 22 civilians were killed and several others injured, when the then Dogra Maharaja’s police opened fire on a gathering outside Srinagar’s central Jail, where anti-monarchy activist Abdul Qadeer Khan was being tried.

The Dogra Maharaja is believed to have signed the Instrument of Accession with India in 1947 after which Abdullah was made emergency administrator of the state and later in 1948 took oath as Prime Minister of J&K.

The opposition People’s Democratic Party also supported the demand for a holiday on Abdullah's anniversary, and the party MLA from Pulwama added that they also want the restoration of holiday on July 13. The NC MLAs and Awami Ittehad Party MLA Sheikh Khursheed also supported Para's demand.

Meanwhile, both Larmi from NC and Para from PDP also demanded an end to the frequent stoppage of vehicles on the highway in southern Kashmir by the armed forces terming it as a "continuous harassment and humiliation of the people of Kashmir.” Para referred to the highway as ‘Berlin Wall’ for locals. "This house should pass a resolution urging GoI to take action about it. We are not against security apparatus and procedures, but the inconvenience to locals, students, and patients is huge. Even ambulances are not allowed to move sometimes. Students miss their exams and passengers miss flights. We know it falls under the home department but the government should do something about this,” said Larmi.

The PDP MLA Para called for an end to frequent stoppages and restrictions during convoy movement, Yatra and tourist season.

“People who gave their land for the highway are being discriminated against. This is like a ‘Berlin Wall’—an us-versus-them situation. People cannot be punished for one attack that took place. Locals should be used to help people, not made a tool of alienation,” said Para. He urged the government to take up the issue with the security agencies and the Unified Command and review the existing restrictions to ensure that security measures do not result in discrimination, humiliation or unnecessary disruption of civilian movement.