Overview
- The December 5 public holiday for Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, scrapped by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration in 2020, has not been reinstated.
- National Conference leaders, including Farooq and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, offered tributes at Sheikh Abdullah’s grave and held commemorative events in Srinagar.
- Omar Abdullah said the elected government lacks authority to declare holidays and reiterated that statehood is needed to regain such powers.
- Farooq Abdullah described governing conditions as operating on a “razor’s edge” under the Lt Governor’s primacy and urged party unity and greater youth and women participation.
- The Hindu reported no statement from the Lt Governor on the anniversary and noted Raj Bhavan rejected a proposal last year to restore the holiday, contrasting with the 2022 addition of Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday to the calendar.