Jammu Kashmir is set to form a new government early next week, marking the end of six years of direct central rule.
The National Conference (NC), expected to lead the government, may prioritize reinstating holidays such as July 13 (Kashmir Martyrs’ Day) and December 5 (Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary), which were removed following the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, Deccan Chronicle reported.
Pertinently, the administration led by Satya Pal Malik, had cancelled July 13 as an official event, marking an end to the function observed for decades since 1948, When Sheikh Abdullah was the Prime Minister of Jammu Kashmir.
In a bid to maintain harmony with Jammu’s residents, the NC is also likely to keep holidays established by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration on October 26 (Maharaja Hari Singh’s Accession Day) and September 23 (his birth anniversary).
Meanwhile, the Congress has committed to bringing back the “Darbar Move,” the bi-annual relocation of the government between Srinagar and Jammu, which was halted as a cost-saving measure.
The new government may also undo measures aimed at diminishing Sheikh Abdullah’s legacy, such as renaming the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre and removing the “Sher-i-Kashmir” title from police medals—steps that have faced significant criticism from the NC.