Dropped from official holiday calendar by L-G, ruling NC starts preparations for ‘Martyrs Day’ in Srinagar

Ruling National Conference (NC) on Monday (July 7, 2025) held a special meeting in Srinagar to review the preparations on the occasion of the death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah, wife of the party founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, and ‘Martyrs’ Day’ on 13th July.

The preparations assumed significance because J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha removed the ‘Martyrs Day’ from the official holiday calendar of the government after the Centre ended J&K’s special constitutional status in 2019. 

“A review meeting was convened at the party headquarters, Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar, to assess the ongoing arrangements for the annual observance of the death anniversary of Madar-e-Maharban Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah (on July 11) and Martyrs’ Day on 13th July. The meeting was chaired by the General Secretary, Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar,” a NC spokesman said.

Mr. Sagar directed the party cadre to ensure a special prayer ceremony is held at the Naqsband Sahib graveyard where 22 locals, who lost their lives in the rebellion against the Dogra rule, are buried. 

Top J&K government officials, including the then Governor, would join the regional parties in paying tributes to those killed by the soldiers of the Dogra monarch in 1931 in Kashmir. However, no official ceremony is held at the graveyard of those who were killed in 1931 after 2019.

There is a growing demand from the regional parties to reincorporate July 13 in the holiday calendar of J&K. The ruling NC too advocated its inclusion but failed to do so because of the special powers granted to the L-G in the Union Territory (UT).

“The government should declare July 13 as a gazetted holiday in memory of the martyrs of 1931. The ‘Martyrs’ Day’ should be observed at the State level, as it used to be,” J&K Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said.

“This government is in danger only because of its underperformance and its failure to fulfil promises made to the people. Otherwise, it has a strong mandate for a full five-year term,” he added.