The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Dec 4: The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah addressed the controversy surrounding the birth anniversary of National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, stating that his government currently lacks the constitutional authority to declare a public holiday for the occasion. The CM explicitly linked the inability to grant the holiday to the larger demand for the restoration of statehood.
Asked by reporters on Thursday if the late leader’s birth anniversary, observed on Friday, would be marked by a public holiday, the Chief Minister expressed strong regret, asserting the decision rests solely with the central government.
“I wish! In the division of powers, the elected government has not been given the power to declare holidays. It is with the Centre,” the Chief Minister said. “That is why we seek restoration of statehood so that we can take big or small decisions ourselves.”
The remarks bring the focus back to the region’s political status and the powers vested in the local administration versus the Union Government. The CM used the specific context of the holiday declaration as a tangible example of the limitations placed on the elected government in the absence of full statehood.
However, the Chief Minister quickly pivoted, stressing that the stature of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, popularly known as Sher-e-Kashmir, is not dependent on official holidays.
“There was no need for a holiday to remember Sher-e-Kashmir,” he stated. He cited recent events as proof of the leader’s lasting legacy, noting, “You saw the best cadet was awarded a sword, which is known by the name of Sher-e-Kashmir. So, whether there is a holiday or not, someone’s stature or contribution is not lessened. People continue to remember him.”
The statement reinforces the government’s respect for the founder’s legacy while simultaneously utilizing the political debate over the holiday as leverage for the ongoing campaign to reclaim statehood and greater administrative autonomy.
