Criticism Grows Over Dropped Holidays in Jammu and Kashmir: A Divisive Move?

On Monday, Tanvir Sadiq, a member of the National Conference party, strongly criticized the BJP for not bringing back public holidays to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and Martyrs Day in Kashmir. The CPI (M) party also spoke out against this decision, calling it a way for the administration to create divisions and change the history of the region.

On December 29, the Jammu and Kashmir administration released a list of public holidays for 2025. This list did not include Martyrs Day, which honors 22 Kashmiris killed by Dogra forces on July 13, 1931, or the birthday of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, the founder of the National Conference, celebrated on December 5. After the changes made in 2019, when Article 370 was revoked and Jammu and Kashmir was split into two Union Territories, the previous administration removed these important holidays from the official calendar.

Sadiq expressed that this decision is a petty attempt by the BJP, but it won’t change the significance of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and the martyrs from July 13, 1931. He believes that these holidays will be restored soon and that they will continue to fight for the restoration of statehood.

CPI (M) leader Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami from Kulgam also criticized the move. He stated that these actions try to erase important parts of their history and that they insult the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He called on everyone in J&K and Ladakh to come together against these divisive actions by the central government.

In response, retired Brigadier Anil Gupta from the BJP supported the administration’s decision to keep the holiday list the same, stating that these holidays were not suitable for all regions. He argued that the National Conference should stop pushing exclusive politics and instead work on promoting unity.