J&K to observe Accession Day as public holiday, parties slam new calendar

With this, the new UT of J&K will have 27 public holidays instead of the previous 28, according to a list of public holidays issued by the General Administration Department on Friday.

Former legislator and senior Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh, who is also the grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh, tweeted, “From next year, 26th October, the day my grandfather, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India will be observed as a state holiday. This is a mark of respect for sacrifices of the J&K State Forces and the Indian Army.”

The government’s move has triggered anger in the Valley, with mainstream political parties lashing out at the BJP and demanding a review.

NC MP Hasnain Masoodi said the decision is “not acceptable”. “Whosoever has taken this decision has done no good to the country and the people of the country. These are two most important events, but if you downplay… and delete the holidays, the message they want to give is that we don’t care for these events,” he said.

PDP spokesperson Tahir Sayeed said the “decision reveals the communal and fascist mindset of BJP”.

J&K Pradesh Congress Committee demanded a review. “Sheikh sahib has a huge contribution in politics and the aim of the BJP is to disregard it…” J&K PCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir said.