Jammu and Kashmir government is in a tight spot over the proposal to declare October 26 as Gazetted holiday on the request of BJP leaders.
BJP’s state unit has been keen on declaring October 26, celebrated as ‘Accession Day’, a State Government holiday in the state. However, the party leadership has failed to build consensus on the issue.
Sources told that the General Administration Department has sent the proposal to Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed a few months ago. However, there is no reply so far from the CM’s office.
“We have sent the file to CM two months ago for approval of various inclusions. However, we are yet to receive the reply from the chief minister,” said a senior GAD official.
According to sources, some of the leaders in the State BJP unit have apprised Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh of their wish regarding declaration of gazetted holiday on October 26 to allow people to celebrate the “historic day”.
On this day in 1947, the erstwhile Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh is said to have signed Instrument of Accession with Union of India. The right wing party had raised the demand of declaring October 26 a State holiday several times in the past before coming to power.
The demand was endorsed by all the former BJP State Presidents, members of National Executive and party spokespersons in clear words.
Now after joining the alliance with diametrically opposite PDP, the State unit of the party is pushing for grand celebrations at least in Jammu region to resurrect its image in the eyes of electorate.
According to GAD officials, the department is yet to send the List of Holidays for 2016 to different departments due to delay in reply from CM’s office.
Last year, GAD had issued an order with List of Holidays on December 3. However, this year the order has already been delayed by 12 days. This has also delayed the publication of Official New Year Calendars.
Govt in tight spot as BJP pushes for gazetted holiday on Oct 26
