Minam Saqib
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 13: In a major blow to the BJP, the Governor led administration has refused to announce holiday on Hari Singh's birth day in the state.
Satya Palik Malik, believed to be a BJP man has not helped the party by accepting its demand of a holiday on Hari Singh's birthday.
As the yearly calendars are being printed, the BJP has maintained silence over government's decision. It is believed the decision will further cut the BJP to size in Jammu and Kashmir.
Official sources said that several departments have been printing yearly calendars in Jammu and Kashmir as per the recent orders issued by the government. "There will be 25 holidays in the state as per the recent order issued by the government. These calendars will be distributed from next month," an official of the Government Printing Press Srinagar, said.
He said that these holidays will be observed under the Negotiable instruments Act.
A BJP leader said that party cadre was unhappy with the party leadership for not being able to convince the Governor led administration and now maintaining silence over the issue.
"When all calendars get printed then there will be no use for the BJP to mount any pressure on the government," the BJP leader said. "Till the government takes the final decision, the authorities should have stopped printing the calendars in departments," he added. The BJP has been demanding a holiday on the birth anniversary of late Dogra ruler of the state, Maharaja Hari Singh, which falls on September 23.
However, the government has announced a list of the holidays which will be observed in 2019. According to the order, 25 holidays would be observed during 2018 in Jammu and Kashmir under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The list also included holiday n December 5, birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and on July 13, the martyr's day. The BJP has also been demanding scrapping of these two holidays. In the list, there is no mention of September 23, the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.
Earlier, Vikramaditya Singh, grandson of Hari Singh, resigned from the PDP for not declaring holiday on his grandfather's birth anniversary. |
