“We will strongly oppose any government functions on July 13, as those killed were rebels against the Maharaja’s rule, not martyrs,” said BJP Leader Altaf Thakur
By Pravin Kumar
The Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) government’s push to reinstate July 13 as a public holiday for ‘Martyrs’ Day’ in Jammu and Kashmir has ignited a fierce political debate, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vowing to block any official commemorations.
The day, marking the 1931 killing of 22 Kashmiri civilians, was stripped of its gazetted holiday status in 2020 by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration following the abrogation of Article 370.
Historically, July 13 was a state holiday in the erstwhile J&K state, observed with a wreath-laying ceremony by the head of government at the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Naqshband Sahib, Srinagar.
This tradition persisted even during the BJP’s coalition with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, the holiday was removed from the calendar post-Article 370 abrogation, sparking widespread controversy.
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The NC, now in power, has proposed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to restore July 13 as a public holiday, alongside December 5, the birth anniversary of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
“The proposal is pending with the LG,” said NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar. The party is also preparing to commemorate the day, with a July 7 meeting at its Srinagar headquarters, chaired by General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, finalizing plans for a tribute at the Martyrs’ Graveyard.
“We will visit the graveyard on July 13 to offer tributes,” Dar affirmed, underscoring the day’s significance in Kashmiri history.
Regional parties like the J&K Apni Party and PDP have backed the NC’s demand. Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari called July 13 “a very important day” and urged its reinstatement as a state-level holiday.
PDP leader Basharat Bukhari echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the day’s historical weight.
In contrast, the BJP remains vehemently opposed. J&K BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur declared, “We will strongly oppose any government functions on July 13, as those killed were rebels against the Maharaja’s rule, not martyrs.” The party’s stance was evident in March 2025, when BJP members disrupted the J&K Assembly after PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra demanded the holiday’s restoration.
The debate reflects deeper tensions post-Article 370, with the NC framing July 13 as central to Kashmiri identity and the BJP viewing it as a challenge to its integration narrative.
The Lieutenant Governor’s authority under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, complicates the NC’s efforts to fulfill its electoral promise.As July 13 nears, attention is fixed on whether the NC will hold official functions at the Martyrs’ Graveyard or await the LG’s approval.
Dar remained cautious, stating, “As a party, we are committed to honoring the martyrs, but we cannot speak for the government.” The LG’s decision on the holiday proposal will likely shape J&K’s political landscape, with implications for how the region commemorates its past.
