A political row has erupted in Kashmir over the holiday notification by the Lt. Governor’s administration on Friday while the Eid-e-Milad, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad, will be observed on Saturday in the valley.
Delivering sermons in Srinagar’s Jama Masjid, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, “Strongly condemn the utter disregard of authorities on the revered occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, who for the second consecutive year have failed to reschedule the holiday in accordance with the actual date, which is tomorrow, 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 government, who fail to take a stand on any issue of the people of J&K,” he added.
J&K’s Education Minister Sakina Itoo wrote on X: “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. What does ‘subject to 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. This is playing with the emotions of the people. Such decisions should be at the helm of the elected government,” she added.