After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to convince its alliance partner Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to declare a State holiday on the occasion of birth anniversary of last Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh has now called for broader review of existing State holidays in the State.
last week the State BJP unit found itself on the back foot after Mehbooba Mufti led alliance Government refused to even acknowledge the demand to declare September 23- a State holiday.
Feeling public pressure the State BJP unit has now launched a damage control exercise. Singh was even heckled by the angry supporters of Maharaja Hari Singh on September 23 in Jammu after he failed to spell out the exact reason for not announcing the state holiday.
On Sunday Nirmal Singh, without naming National Conference, said it is high time the State Government should review the existing State holidays which are directly linked with a particular political party.
Singh was responding to a straight question whether the BJP had demanded review of State holiday on Martyrs' day — celebrated in Kashmir valley on July 13 and December 5 —Birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah.
"Yes, I have asked for a broader review of list of existing state holidays in the State as the list of holidays in increasing and we are left with very few working days". "The Centre and UP Government have also reviewed list of Government holidays. In Jammu & Kashmir the list of holidays is too long. It is high time the same should be reviewed, Singh clarified when he was repeatedly quizzed by reporters on the contentious issue.
On the occasion Nirma Singh also reiterated BJP's stand in support of state holiday on September 23, birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh. He said, “We support the genuine public demand for a State holiday on September 23.”
Reacting to the comments of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat over the issue of abrogation of Article 370 which grants special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Nirmal Singh said as far as BJP is concerned we also support the demand but as an alliance partner we are committed to Agenda of Alliance. Dr Singh maintained in Agenda of Alliance it has been mentioned clearly that both the alliance partners would maintain the status quo on constitutional matters and other issues where both the parties have divergent view points and different perceptions.