22 people were killed in protest against Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh on July 13, 1931
Jammu Tawi, July 10: For the first time since 1948 there will be no holiday on July 13 in J&K as the UT administration has dropped the ‘Martyrs' Day' and Sheikh Abdullah's birth anniversary from the list of official holidays for the year 2020.
After the National Conference Government lead by Sheikh Mohd Abdullah took over the reins of Jammu and Kashmir, July 13 was commemorated as Martyrs' Day in J&K.
After becoming the first Prime Minister of the erstwhile state of J&K in October 1947, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had declared this day as official holiday to remember those who rebelled against the then Maharaja rule and killed in police firing for attacking Srinagar Jail on July 13, 1931.
Twenty-two people were killed in the protest against the then ruler Maharaja Hari Singh.
Till last year, it was a holiday on July 13 and the day was observed throughout J&K. The Chief Minister, ministers, DGP, among others used to offer floral tributes at the graves of those who had died in 1931.
However, no official functions will be held this time around.
In the last couple of years, the day had created a regional divide as people in Jammu used to observe it as a ‘Black Day' to recall the “first attack” on religious minorities of J&K.
Not only displaced Kashmiri Pandits, but Jammu-based social and political parties also used to hold protests at various places to oppose the government's decision to declare the day an official holiday and “glorify the first communal attack on religious minorities”.
After abrogation of article 370 and bifurcation of J&K state into two Union Territories, the administration, on December 27, 2019, had dropped July 13 and December 5 from the list of holidays for 2020. December 5 is the birth anniversary of National Conference (NC) founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
The administration had, however, declared October 26 as a gazetted holiday. On this day in 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the “Instrument of Accession” with the Indian Union.
Enraged, the NC had demanded that the decision be reviewed, arguing that the role of Sheikh Abdullah in “democratic awakening” of his people could not be undermined and had been acclaimed worldwide.
