Ruling NC to shun Kashmir admin's Union Territory Day function

Srinagar: Kashmir administration will celebrate Union Territory Day on October 31, when the J&K Reorganisation Act came into effect in 2019. The erstwhile state of J&K was divided into two Union territories of J&K and Ladakh.

Kashmir's divisional commissioner has sent invitations for the celebration scheduled at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of the Dal Lake here. Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha is the chief guest for the event and invitations have been sent to political parties as well.

The ruling National Conference has decided not to attend the function, stating that they are striving for restoration of statehood and cannot celebrate what they are opposing. "We will not attend the UT foundation day function. We are a party which has passed a resolution for statehood which our chief minister Omar Abdullah presented before the prime minister. How can we go to such a function? None of our members will go to any such function. We don't accept this Union Territory set up here," said Tanvir Sadiq, spokesman of NC and MLA from Zadibal.


School session shifted back
Meanwhile, the Abdullah-led Cabinet has decided to shift the academic session back to November-December for classes till 9th standard for Kashmir province and winter zones of Jammu province. Now the examination will be held in November-December before winter vacations, instead of March. The LG administration had shifted the session from November to March in 2022. Education minister Sakina Itoo informed that for higher classes the session will be restored from 2025.

"Parents and students had insisted on changing the session back to November... We hope that this will be a great respite and relief for parents and students," Abdullah said.