Declare Sept 23, Oct 26 as State holidays on analogy of Dec 5: Harsh

STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Exhorting the State Government to immediately announce September 23 as State holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday on the analogy of December 5 besides declaring gazetted holiday on October 26 to commemorate Accession Day, Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman JKNPP and former Minister, expressed his anguish over the BJP-PDP combine for purportedly procrastinating the announcement of most coveted holidays to hurt the Dogra pride and honour. He was addressing a press conference, here in Tuesday.
Harsh described Maharaja Hari Singh as one of the greatest nationalists and Indian patriot who had challenged the British Crown in 1931 at Round Table Conference in London declaring that, “I am an Indian first and then a Maharaja”.
He said that the revered Maharaja shall always be remembered for showcasing his nationalistic ethos when he acceded the State of J&K to the Union of India by signing the historic Instrument of Accession of 26th October, 1947.
He further maintained that Maharaja Hari Singh was the most progressive, secular and visionary ruler of princely India and declaration of his birthday as State holiday on September 23 would be a real tribute to the legendary ruler.
He wondered that if Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday on December 5 could be observed as State holiday then why the same on Maharaja’s Birthday was denied despite the resolution adopted by the State Legislative Council, whose gargantuan contributions gave the biggest gratifying opportunity to the millions of nationalist people of the State to call themselves as proud Indians.
Further seeking declaration of State holiday on October 26 as “Accession Day” in place of July 13 which continued in J&K as Gazetted State holiday to commemorate ‘Kashmir Martyr’s Day’ with full State honours, Harsh expressed his indignation over the perfidious compromises and craven surrenders made by the BJP before the Valley centric PDP for the loaves of power.
He lambasted Saffron brigade for its treacherous retreat on the observance of July 13 as ‘Martyr’s Day’ which reminisced infamous episode of mutiny in Kashmir in 1931 followed by large scale incidents of arson, loot and sectarian carnage when 21 rebels who had incited sedition and public outrage against the Maharaja’s (Dogra) rule were killed by the police for restoring law and order.
Singh said that while the mutineers of July 13 were glorified as martyrs, the BJP partnered dispensation turned a blind eye to the supreme sacrifice of valiant Brigadier Rajinder Singh who laid down his life on October 26, 1947 while restraining and preventing the Pak sponsored ‘Kabailis’ from entering Srinagar. He added that his martyrdom had paved way for the successful accession of J&K with rest of India on the same day when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the IOA while showcasing his allegiance to the nation.
Reminding Deputy CM Dr. Nirmal Singh of his assurance to review the State holidays, Singh lamented that it too had turned out to be another gimmick to cheat the people.
Gagan Pratap Singh State Secretary and Spokesman JKNPP was also present during the press conference.