First time since 1948, no official function on Martyrs' Day in Kashmir

July 13, which used to be commemorated as Martyrs' Day in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was removed from the list of gazetted holidays post the government's move on Article 370. Hence, there is no official function or government holiday today in the Union Territory.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): For the first time since 1948, there is no government holiday or function on July 13 in Jammu and Kashmir. This comes after the Jammu and Kashmir administration decided to do away with Martyrs' Day and Sheikh Abdullah's birth anniversary from the list of official holidays for the year 2020. July 13 was commemorated as Martyrs' Day in the erstwhile state.

"In December last year, the martyrs' day on July 13 and December 5, the birth anniversary of former J&K Prime Minister Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was omitted from the gazetted holiday list. Therefore, there is no official function or holiday today (Monday)," a senior officer in the J&K administration said.

After becoming the first Prime Minister of the erstwhile state of J&K in October 1947, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had declared this day as an official holiday to remember those who stood against the "autocratic" Dogra ruler and sacrificed their lives on July 13, 1931.

In the protest against the then Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, twenty-two people were killed.

Till 2019, it was a holiday on July 13 and the day was observed throughout J&K. The Chief Minister, ministers, DGP, politicians among others used to offer tributes at the graves of those who had died in 1931.

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After the abrogation of Article 370 and downgrading of J&K state into two Union Territories, the administration, on December 27, 2019, had dropped July 13 and December 5 from the list of holidays for 2020. December 5 is the birth anniversary of National Conference (NC) founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

In the new list of gazette holidays, the administration, however, declared October 26 as a gazetted holiday. On this day in 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the 'Instrument of Accession' with the Indian Union.

This decision enraged several local politicians who demanded that the decision be reviewed, arguing that the role of Sheikh Abdullah in 'democratic awakening' of his people could not be undermined.

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