Aaqib Khan
Srinagar, Sep 22: The National Conference (NC) on Monday demanded restoration of the public holiday on the birth anniversary of party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, saying he had done a lot for J&K, even as opposition BJP legislators staged a walkout amid noisy scenes.
Raising the issue in the House, NC members said Sheikh Abdullah’s contribution in shaping modern Jammu and Kashmir cannot be ignored. They said his historic reforms, including Land to Tiller, free education up to university level and empowerment of women, laid the foundation of a progressive J&K.
They pointed out that both holidays — July 13 Martyrs’ Day and December 5, the birth anniversary of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah — were removed from the official holiday calendar after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Participating in the discussion, senior NC leader and MLA Eidgah Mubarak Gul said the NC remained in power for many years but never altered any holiday or any important day.
“We remained in power for decades, but we never removed any holiday. We never played with history. If BJP or any other party’s leader had a holiday, we never removed it. Holidays represent collective memory,” Gul said.
He said restoring the December 5 holiday would be a tribute to Sheikh Abdullah’s contribution to the people of J&K.
As the demand was raised, BJP legislators strongly resisted it, alleging that the ruling National Conference was deliberately trying to disrupt the House to avoid a discussion on issues concerning the people. Raising slogans, they walked out in protest.
The BJP, before walking out, demanded that the House answer the issues it had raised on Day-1, including the problems of daily wagers and NHM employees.
Speaker appealed to all members to stop and let the House run smoothly, saying, “We all should maintain discipline so that the House will run smoothly.” The Speaker urged all sides to cooperate in making the House function.
Congress leader and Bandipora MLA Nizamuddin Bhat backed the Speaker’s appeal, saying, “We should maintain discipline to run this House smoothly.”
BJP legislators, however, continued to press for answers to the issues they had raised on Day-1, even as the Speaker made repeated appeals for order. (KNS)
