Srinagar, Dec 30 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed shock and dismay over the exclusion of July 13 Martyrs’ Day from the list of gazetted holidays for 2025. The party accused the National Conference (NC)-led government of backtracking on its promises made ahead of the Assembly elections.
In a statement, PDP General Secretary Mohammad Khurshid Alam criticized the omission of both July 13 Martyrs’ Day and December 5, the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, from the official holiday calendar. He described the decision as a betrayal of the aspirations of the people who had voted en masse for the NC in the hope of better representation of their sentiments.
“July 13, 1931, is a historic day—not just for the people of Kashmir but for anyone who believes in standing up to autocratic rule and speaking truth to power.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe removal of this holiday is a blow to the collective memory and emotions of the Kashmiri people,” Alam said.
He accused the NC-led government of failing to honor its promises, despite receiving a massive mandate from the people. “The people of Kashmir didn’t vote for the NC to organize ski festivals at tourist resorts. They voted to see their beliefs and aspirations respected and their concerns amplified in a just and democratic manner,” he added.
Alam criticized the government’s “pin-drop silence” over the issue, calling it a failure to stand by the cultural and historical legacy of the region.(KNS)