No Place for Maharaja in list of 2018 Holidays

Jammu:Notwithstanding all the political drama, besides the collective emotive demand of people of the region, the state government has not included September 23, the birth anniversary of the last Hindu ruler of state Maharaja Hari Singh, in the list of public holidays for the year 2018 which it released on Thursday.

The month of September had seen the streets of Jammu brimming with people and their emotions as they came together like never in recent past, demanding declaration of public holiday on September 23 which is the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.

The expectations were high as only in January this year, the Upper House of State Legislature had passed a private member’s resolution in absence of opposition seeking holiday on Maharaja’s birthday, moved by his grandson and BJP legislator Ajatshatru Singh.

However, nothing was to be seen in September, when, reportedly opposition against the declaration among the PDP, BJP’s partner in ruling coalition. There were strikes, with some traders, besides Bar Association celebrating their own holiday, with Maharaja’s other grandson and PDP legislator Vikramaditya Singh resigning from party over the same issue, later.

Whatever hopes were remained of the move were quashed on Thursday when government put out the

list of holidays during the calendar year-2018.

As per the official order in this regard, holidays would be observed in the Government offices and educational institutions of the State on the dates mentioned here i.e. on Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday- 5 January, Republic Day-26 January, Mahashivratri- 13 February, 1st Navratra-18 March, Nauroz-21 March, Ramanavmi-25 March, Yearly dosing of Banks (Banks only)- 1 April, Shab-I-Miraj, Baisakhi- 13 April, Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar - I4 April, Buddha Purnima-30 April, Jumat-ul-Vida-8 June, Shab-l-Qadr- 11 June, Eid-ul-Fitr- 15 June, Guru Hargobind Ji’s Birthday-5 July, Martyr’s Day-13 July, Independence Day- 15 August, Eid-ul-Azha-22, 23 August, Janamashtami- 3 September, Ashoora- 21 September, Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday- 2 October, Mahanavmi, Dussehra- 18 October, Diwali-7 November, Eld-l-Mliad-un-Nabi- 21 November, Guru Nanak Dev’s Birthday, Friday following Eid-I-Milad-ul-Nabi- 23 November, Birthday of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah- 5 December and Christmas Day- 25 December

Besides, In Jammu province only, three more holidays would be observed viz. Lohri- 13 January, Guru Ravi Das's Birthday-31 January and Holi- 1 March, whereas four additional holidays would be observed in Kashmir province namely Friday following Shab-I-Miraj-2o April, Mela Khir Bhawani- 20 June, Urs Shah-I- Harndan Sahib-18'August and Urs Sheikh Noor-ud-din-Sahib on 7 October.