Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: Several political and social organizations today expressed its indignation over not announcing the holiday on September 23, the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh, in the 2020 holiday list released after the formation of Union Territory.
Expressing resentment on the issue, president of J&K unit of Shiv Sena Bala Saheb Thackeray, Manish Sahni said that erstwhile J&K governments continued to ignore nationalist people’s aspirations, but the public was expecting from the Modi Government that a holiday would be announced on September 23.
He said nationalist people of the J&K are disappointed and annoyed with the BJP for not including September 23 (birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh) in holiday list of 2020.
Hailing decision of the UT administration to declare holiday on Accession Day, Team Jammu today reiterated its demand of declaring holiday on the birthday of last Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh-who was instrumental in the accession of erstwhile state of J&K with the Indian Union.
Addressing a meeting of activists of Team Jammu, its Chairman, Zorawar Singh Jamwal said various social organizations have already submitted memorandum to UT administration to declare September 23 as holiday. He said that there was no reason to delay decision on this issue as sentiments of the residents of J&K were attached with last ruler of the erstwhile Dogra State.
Criticizing the Government of J&K UT for not announcing holiday on birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh, National Justice Party (NJP) president Dr Randeep Singh Parivartan, said people of J&K, especially Dogras had great hope of declaration of holiday on September 23 after abrogation of Article 370 and reorganization of J&K State but the present Government did not honour the aspirations of the people.
Dr Singh demanded that Bharat Ratna be awarded to Maharaj Gulab Singh, founder of erstwhile J&K State and Maharaja Hari Singh, who merged the state with Indian Union.
Expressing anger over not declaring the gazetted holiday on the birth anniversary of Mahraja Hari Singh, Sunil Dimple, president, Jammu West Assembly Movement, threatened agitation. He demanded the Lt Governor GC Murmu to declare gazetted holiday on the birth anniversary of the Maharaja who made J&K integral part of the India.
Dimple warned if the demand of gazetted holiday on Maharaja’s birthday and restoration of statehood of J&K are not met, the people will be forced to come out on the roads and start agitation. He appealed all the political parties and civil society groups to join hands and chalk out a joint further strategy to create pressure on the Government to get fulfilled these two most important demands.