Row in J&K over Eid-e-Milad holiday date, CM Omar slams ‘unelected’ government

 A row erupted today in Jammu and Kashmir after J&K Lt Governor’s administration didn’t reschedule the holiday for Eid-e-Milad, which is being observed tomorrow in the union Territory.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of deliberately hurting people’s sentiments by not shifting the Eid-e-Milad holiday to align with the sighting of the moon.
“The calendar printed by the Government press is very clear – “Subject to the appearance of the moon”. It means that the holiday is subject to change depending upon the moon being sighted. The deliberate decision by the unelected government to not shift the holiday is inconsiderate & designed to hurt the sentiments of the people,” Omar posted on X.
J&K minister Sakina Itoo too criticised the administration for failing to declare the festival on its correct date. Eid-e-Milad marks the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad.
“This is totally unjust that Eid-e-Milad, a sacred occasion for Muslims worldwide, is not observed as a holiday on the correct date in J&K,” she said in a post on X.
“What does ‘subject to the appearance of the moon’ mean if it is not followed? Despite repeated requests from the elected government to shift the holiday, no action has been taken,” she added.
The minister further stressed that such decisions should rest with the elected representatives. “This is playing with the emotions of the people. Such decisions should be at the helm of the elected government,” she added.
Incidentally, the Special Officer Auqaf, a religious body headed by a BJP leader, had formally requested the postponement of the holiday on Friday and suggested that it should be officially declared tomorrow in Jammu and Kashmir.
The J&K Revenue Department subsequently wrote to the General Administration Department (GAD) on September 1, urging it to consider declaring the holiday on tomorrow.
“It is further submitted that all Muslim holidays are subject to the appearance of the moon,” the Under Secretary wrote in the letter to the GAD.
However, there has been no response from the Secretary, GAD, on the matter so far.
In the union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a dual governance system is operating, under which the declaration of public holidays falls within the jurisdiction of the Lieutenant Governor.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti said it was unfortunate that a blessed occasion like Eid-e-Milad for Muslims all over the world is not even being observed on the correct day in J&K. She also targeted the ruling National Conference on the issue.
“Month after month, we witness how the NC Government, even with a brute majority, legitimises & normalises such atrocious decisions. India’s only Muslim majority state doesn’t even have the freedom to declare our cherished religious occasions,” she said on X.
Kashmir’s chief cleric and Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned the administration for failing to reschedule the Eid-e-Milad holiday in accordance with the actual date for the second consecutive year. He said it was disregarding the sentiments of the Muslim community.
“This deliberate negligence is unacceptable to the Muslims of J&K who strongly protest it. Equally regrettable is the silence of the elected govt, who fail to take a stand on any issue that concerns the public of J&K,” he said.
UNI MJR VNS SSP