Chicago – Setember 16, 2024
TWO DAYS ahead of voting for the first phase of the Assembly elections, the Jammu and Kashmir administration invited criticism for not announcing a birthday on Tuesday to mark Prophet Mohammed’s birth anniversary as per the Muslim calendar. The administration instead called a holiday on Monday, coinciding with when the rest of the country observed Eid Milad-un-Nabi.
Peoples Democratic Party leader Iltija Mufti, who is contesting from the Bijbehara Assembly constituency, posted on X: “Gazetted holiday for Eid Milad Un Nabi (SAW) has been declared for today despite the fact that it falls tomorrow on 17th September… This has caused considerable confusion amongst people & is also utterly insensitive.” She urged Lt Governor Manoj Sinha “to kindly take notice”.
Sinha as well as senior civil and police officers shared their Eid greetings with the people of the Valley on Monday. Criticising the government move, the Valley’s top religious cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said: “This action shows the callous attitude of the authorities towards the Muslim community. It has caused hurt to the religious sentiments of Muslims in Kashmir. As Milad is on Tuesday the 17th, State holiday should have been given on that day.”
Mirwaiz added: “It is most unfortunate that those governing us today are ignorant about our religious and cultural traditions and have little interest in understanding them, or showing respect to them.” The Valley’s Grand Mufti, Nasir ul Islam, had announced 10 days ago that Eid Milad-un-Nabi would be observed in Kashmir on September 17.
BJP media in-charge, Kashmir, Sajid Yousuf said he couldn’t comment on the issue. “I am busy with campaigning and I don’t have any idea about this.” paraphrase into professional news article, 180 words, write like 6 grader
