Wed Dec 04 16:24:16 UTC 2024: ## National Conference Pushes for Sheikh Abdullah’s Birthday as J&K Public Holiday

**Srinagar, December 4, 2024** – The ruling National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir is urging the government to reinstate the birth anniversary of party founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah as a public holiday on December 5th. This request comes after the Lieutenant Governor’s administration removed the date from the official holiday calendar in 2020.

NC general secretary and legislator Ali Mohammad Sagar championed the cause, highlighting Sheikh Abdullah’s contributions to the region’s fight for dignity, democratic rights, and social justice. He described the late leader as a guiding light for the people of J&K and argued that removing the holiday undermines his legacy. Sagar appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to restore the holiday.

While the NC plans commemorative events for the 119th birth anniversary, official sources indicate a disagreement between the NC government and the Raj Bhawan, headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, regarding the holiday declaration. NC provincial president Showkat Ahamd Mir noted that the UT’s unclear business rules defining the powers of the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor further complicate the matter. Despite the uncertainty, Mir confirmed that the people of J&K will pay their respects to Sheikh Abdullah regardless.

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