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The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
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.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Not happy with quality of polity in J&K: National Conference MP Ruhullah
Ruling National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament (MP) Aga Syed Ruhullah on Friday (June 20, 2025) expressed his dissatisfaction over the 'quality of polity' in Jammu and Kashmir and sought people's support to bring accountability to the system. 'I am not happy or satisfied with the quality of polity in J&K. I am not referring to any particular organisation, but to the entire polity of J&K. Politics in J&K has degraded. Changing parties won't help. I appeal to society to stand for reform,' MP Ruhullah said. MP Ruhullah made these remarks in Sopore, in north Kashmir's Baramulla constituency. He also engaged with youth in a question-and-answer session on the politics and issues of Kashmir. However, his decision to address a civil society group in Sopore was not well received by the NC leadership there. None of the local NC leaders or activists participated in the public event attended by the MP. 'It doesn't matter whether they (NC leaders) attended or not. I was invited. I can't refuse an invitation based on whether they voted for us or not,' Mr. Ruhullah said. There is growing friction between MP Ruhullah and the NC's top leadership, which has been evident on several occasions since the party formed the government in J&K last year. The MP sought people's support to 'reshape polity.' He said, 'I am looking for those people who will walk with me, bringing accountability to the system, those who will stand for credibility.' The issue of rationalisation of the reservation quota saw MP Ruhullah joining protesters outside the Chief Minister's residence in Srinagar last year. He also recently admitted that the top party leadership has 'not been in touch with him.' However, MP Ruhullah continues to attend party meetings and is reportedly among the few voices critical of the government's functioning. After the Sopore function, the MP also supported the demand that the Cabinet Sub-Committee report on the rationalisation of reservation quotas in jobs should be made public. The CSC submitted its report on reservation to the Cabinet this week. 'It should be made public. There should be discussion. Even if the report has been sent to the Law Department, it should be concluded within a week's time,' he said. Mr. Ruhullah is a popular Shia cleric and garners significant support for his bold stance on issues like Article 370, greater autonomy, and security forces' crackdown on youth in Kashmir.
