Tug-of-war ignites in Jammu and Kashmir over July 13 Martyrs’ Day holiday demand

As July 13 approaches, the uncertainty surrounding the holiday’s official status and permissions for visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada has heightened anticipation

By
Chandra Maurya
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As July 13 approaches, the uncertainty surrounding the holiday’s official status and permissions for visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada has heightened anticipation
As July 13 approaches, the uncertainty surrounding the holiday’s official status and permissions for visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada has heightened anticipation

Political row erupts in J&K over demand to restore July 13 Martyrs’ Day holiday

A fierce political controversy has gripped Jammu and Kashmir as regional parties, led by the ruling National Conference (NC), push to restore July 13 as a public holiday to commemorate Martyrs’ Day.

The move has sparked a heated debate, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party joining the demand, while accusations of political opportunism and double-speak fly between the parties.

Until the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, July 13 was a gazetted public holiday, with top officials and political leaders paying tributes at the martyrs’ graveyard.

The Lieutenant Governor-led administration scrapped the holiday in 2019, citing a shift in the region’s administrative framework, a decision that has since fueled discontent among regional parties.

National Conference’s push for restoration

The NC, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has taken a prominent stand on reinstating July 13 as a public holiday.

On July 7, 2025, the party held a high-level meeting at its Srinagar headquarters, Nawa-e-Subha, to finalize arrangements for observing Martyrs’ Day.

NC General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar wrote to the Srinagar District Magistrate, requesting security arrangements for party president Farooq Abdullah and senior leaders to visit Mazar-e-Shuhada on July 13 to offer floral tributes.

The NC also formally appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to restore July 13, alongside December 5 (the birth anniversary of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah), as public holidays.

NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar emphasized the party’s commitment, stating, “We will observe it, regardless of whether it is declared a public holiday or not.

The NC’s proposal comes amid its broader narrative of restoring statehood and rectifying the changes imposed after 2019.

Senior NC leader Tanvir Sadiq Ali said, “This is why we keep saying that the return of statehood is crucial. Only then can we rectify what has been destroyed in Jammu and Kashmir.”

PDP accuses National Conference of ‘double speak’

The opposition PDP, led by former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has accused the NC of “double speak” and political posturing. The PDP moved a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, proposed by MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para, to declare July 13 an official holiday to commemorate the 1931 martyrs.

However, the Assembly Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, rejected the resolution, prompting sharp criticism from Mufti. She stated, “By dropping PDP’s July 13 Martyrs’ Day resolution, the J&K Assembly has exposed NC’s double-speak on Kashmir’s history. Their silence proves complicity, not commitment.”

Mufti argued that the NC, despite its vocal advocacy, failed to support the PDP’s legislative effort, suggesting a lack of sincerity. “When the moment came to defend a shared legacy, they chose silence,” she said, accusing the NC of aligning with the central government’s agenda to dilute Kashmir’s historical identity.

The PDP maintains that July 13, 1931, marks the “dawn of political consciousness” in Jammu and Kashmir and must be officially acknowledged. The party has vowed to visit Mazar-e-Shuhada on July 13 to pay tributes, with PDP vice president Sartaj Madni asserting, “No official order can diminish the legacy of the martyrs or the ideals they stood for.”

The party has criticized the NC-led government’s efforts as “symbolic gestures” and “political lip service,” arguing that without legislative backing, the push for a holiday lacks substance.

Apni Party’s demand for official recognition

The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, led by Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, has also joined the chorus, demanding that July 13 be declared a gazetted holiday and observed at the state level, as it was before 2019. On July 7, Bukhari addressed a workers’ convention in Pulwama, urging the government to restore the holiday and hold an official ceremony to honor the martyrs. “We are not just demanding a holiday on July 13. This Martyrs’ Day should be observed as a government function,” he said, emphasizing the need for institutional recognition.

Bukhari took a swipe at the NC, questioning its political will despite its significant legislative strength. “They have 50 MLAs. Who is stopping them? It’s about political will. If they fail, by the grace of Allah, I assure my people—don’t worry,” he said, positioning the Apni Party as a viable alternative. The party has also sought permission from the Srinagar District Magistrate to offer prayers at Mazar-e-Shuhada on July 13.

Administrative and political challenges

The push to restore July 13 as a public holiday faces significant hurdles, primarily due to the Lieutenant Governor’s authority over the Home Department in the Union Territory.

Since the abrogation of Article 370, the L-G administration has restricted access to Mazar-e-Shuhada on July 13, citing law and order concerns.

Last year, leaders like Mehbooba Mufti and Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone were placed under house arrest to prevent them from visiting the graveyard.

This year, with an elected government in place, all eyes are on L-G Manoj Sinha to see if he will permit political leaders to mark the day at the historic graveyard. The NC’s formal request for security arrangements and the PDP and Apni Party’s plans to visit Mazar-e-Shuhada have put pressure on the administration. However, as of July 11, 2025, there is no official word from Raj Bhawan on whether the holiday will be restored or if permissions will be granted for the commemorative events.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief cleric of Jammu and Kashmir, added another layer to the controversy, alleging that he was placed under house arrest to prevent him from mentioning the 1931 martyrs in his Friday sermon at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid.

“Disallowed to go to Jama Masjid today, put under house arrest, fearing the mention of the martyrs of 13th July 1931,” he posted on X, highlighting the ongoing restrictions on commemorative activities.

Tanvir Sadiq of the National Conference on Friday once again launched a scathing attack on the PDP and Apni Party, accusing them of hypocrisy. “They didn’t even put the Jammu and Kashmir state flag on their official vehicles.

Today, they want to teach us about Martyrs’ Day? It’s deeply unfortunate,” he said, referencing the PDP and Apni Party’s actions during the post-2019 political turmoil.
The BJP, which has opposed the reinstatement of the holiday in the past, has remained relatively silent, though some leaders have sparked controversy by denouncing the 1931 martyrs, further fueling tensions.

As July 13 approaches, the uncertainty surrounding the holiday’s official status and permissions for visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada has heightened anticipation. The outcome will likely shape the political discourse in Jammu and Kashmir, testing the NC-led government’s ability to navigate the complex interplay of regional aspirations and central authority.

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Chandra Maurya
Chandra Maurya
Chandra Maurya
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2 COMMENTS

  2. Who were the MARTYRS and what did they die for ” DAWN OF THE POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS” a concept that does not exist in the religion of peace.

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