Demand for state holiday on Maharaja's birth anniversary grows

JAMMU: The demand for state holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh's birth anniversary has been growing as many political and social organizations in Jammu region have came out openly in favour of demanding the state holiday on September 23, with several of them appealing state employees to go on mass leave.
The state unit of BJP, coalition partner in ruling government, on Thursday urged Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to declare holiday on Maharaja's birth anniversary.
"BJP calls upon the state government to declare a state holiday on September 23 while recognising the contribution of Maharaja Hari Singh in the development of the state," BJP state spokesperson Virender Gupta said.
He called for providing justice to all the communities of the state without differentiating on the basis of religion, region, caste and creed, he said
Declaring a state holiday on his birth day would honour the "emotions and sentiments of Dogras and the public at large in J&K".
Gupta further said, BJP ministers in the state cabinet were also exerting their influence on the chief minister for declaring a state holiday on the Maharaja's birth anniversary.
A few days back, the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) had lambasted the BJP for nor raising the issue with People's Democratic Party, its coalition partner in the state.
Main opposition National Conference's provincial president Devender Singh Rana, last week had also demanded the holiday on September 23.
Meanwhile, several Jammu-based organisations also urged their employees to go on mass casual leave as they would take out a public rally here to pay tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh on his birth anniversary.
Chamber of Traders Federation (CTF) President Neeraj Anand, who led other organisations in the movement, said people should celebrate the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh by distributing sweets, lighting candles at their houses.
"The birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh is to be celebrated on September 23. Therefore, we request the public of Jammu to join us in the rally which will start from Thakkar Sabha Dogra Hall at 10:00 am on September 23," Anand said.
"We all were expecting a good news in this regard on the eve of Navratri, but it is regretted to inform you all that government has not taken both the issues seriously therefore it seems that it has ignored both the demands of the public of announcement of holiday on Maharaja's birthday and abolition of toll tax," he said.
The president of the CTF said that they will chalk out further strategy to take up both the issues and will get both the demands fulfilled.