PONDER ON SEPT 23 ‘HOLIDAY’
As the veteran leader and son of Maharaja Hari Singh, Dr Karan Singh has also endorsed the demand of public holiday on September 23 to mark the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh, the committee given responsibility should mull on the demand afresh as no entity in J&K is against the common perception of having a holiday on the aforesaid date every year. Though government has shown prudence while diffusing the tension among the youths of some organizations led by Yuva Rajput Sabha supporting the aforementioned demand by asking the protesting sections to suspend their agitation as the committee constituted over the issue is working on the issue and soon come up with its recommendations. There is no doubt that already the holiday culture has affected badly the working of the government and giving one more will further take the toll of working hours but when it is public sentiment then the government needs to show some relaxation and that is true for this particular case as Maharaja’s role in making the lives of people of J&K dignified was significant and that is the reason one and all are supporting the cause whether overtly or candidly in a subtle manner. The committee doing the job to decide the fate should consider the public sentiment also as going by the rule book is not advised always. The UT government therefore should reconsider the whole matter and pay heed to the demand which will go a long way in making people more contented towards working of the UT administration as there is some kind of unrest among majority of people in context with the confusion of holiday on September 23 because almost every party and even elected representatives have endorsed and assured to give the holiday though on ground the issue is still hanging in balance. One thing is sure that the government’s nod on the issue will bring smiles on all the citizens of J&K as the maharaja holds a special place in the hearts and minds of people because of his innumerable public welfare initiatives during his tenure and farsightedness that brought lot of development in the erstwhile Kingdom during that time.