Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 14: Coming down heavily on the erstwhile Coalition Government and BJP in particular for deliberately ignoring to announce Sept 23 as State holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday, NPP chairman and former Minister Harsh Dev Singh sought immediate intervention of Governor SP Malik to declare the date as Gazetted holiday to uphold Dogra pride and honour.
Addressing a press conference here today, Harsh Dev described Maharaja Hari Singh as one of the greatest nationalists and Indian patriot who had challenged the British Crown in 1931 at Round Table Conference in London declaring that, “I am an Indian first and then a Maharaja”. He said that the revered Dogra ruler shall always be remembered for showcasing his nationalistic ethos when he acceded the State of J&K to the Union of India by signing the historic Instrument of Accession of October 26 , 1947.
He wondered that if Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday could be observed as State holiday then why the same on Maharaja’s birthday was denied whose colossal contributions made millions of nationalist people of the State to call themselves as proud Indians. “Maharaja Hari Singh was the icon of secularism and modern democracy who introduced several social reforms in the fields of Judiciary, Education, Revenue, Finance etc. His contribution towards women empowerment, alleviation of racial discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and colour was impeccable and visionary”, added Singh.
Lambasting the Congress, NC and PDP as well for maintaining criminal silence to endorse the policy of delay and deny over the subject, Singh rued that the opposition to the holiday despite resolution to the effect having been passed in Legislative council during the previous Government only exposed the communal psyche of the Kashmir centric leaders.
He further deplored in particular the servile posturing of the then BJP Ministers who failed to get the same implemented in right letter and spirit. “Why did the BJP Ministers remained tight lipped in cabinet meetings with regard to holiday issue on Maharaja’s birthday? Why did the holiday issue failed to find its mention in the Assembly or in the Cabinet meetings during the saffron rule? Questioned Harsh Dev.
NPP leader urged upon the Governor to immediately consider the announcement of Sept 23 as Gazetted holiday in the state.
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