Mon Jul 07 23:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The National Conference (NC) in Srinagar is preparing for the annual observance of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah’s death anniversary and “Martyrs’ Day” on July 13th. This year’s preparations are notable because the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) removed “Martyrs’ Day” from the official holiday calendar in 2019 after the revocation of Article 370. The NC is calling for the reinstatement of July 13th as a gazetted holiday, a demand echoed by other regional parties. The day commemorates 22 locals killed in 1931 during a rebellion against Dogra rule. While no official government ceremony is held since 2019, the NC is planning a special prayer ceremony and urging its cadre to participate. A local politician, Altaf Bukhari, has also spoken out calling for the reintroduction of “Martyrs’ Day”.

**News Article:**

**Srinagar: NC Prepares for ‘Martyrs’ Day’ Amidst Holiday Calendar Controversy**

**Srinagar, July 8, 2025** – The National Conference (NC) held a special meeting in Srinagar on Monday to finalize preparations for the death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah and “Martyrs’ Day” on July 13th. The annual commemoration is particularly significant this year as “Martyrs’ Day” remains absent from the official J&K holiday calendar, a decision made by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha after the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.

The NC’s General Secretary, Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, chaired the meeting at the party headquarters, urging party members to organize a special prayer ceremony at the Naqsband Sahib graveyard, the burial site of 22 Kashmiris killed during a 1931 uprising against Dogra rule. Historically, top government officials, including the Governor, participated in paying respects at the site. Since 2019, however, no official ceremony takes place.

Several regional parties, including the NC, are advocating for the reintroduction of July 13th as a gazetted holiday. “The government should declare July 13 as a gazetted holiday in memory of the martyrs of 1931. The ‘Martyrs’ Day’ should be observed at the State level, as it used to be,” stated J&K Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari.

The NC’s continued observance of “Martyrs’ Day,” despite its removal from the official holiday calendar, highlights the ongoing sensitivities surrounding the events of 1931 and the subsequent political changes in the region. The debate underscores the complexities of navigating local sentiments and historical narratives within the evolving political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.

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