SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's administration has raised the hackles of political parties in Jammu and Kashmir for failing to declare a holiday for Eid-e-Milad un Nabi (birthday of Prophet Muhammad) on Saturday.
Instead of Saturday, a holiday has been observed in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the unelected government's decision to not shift the holiday to Saturday is “inconsiderate & designed to hurt the sentiments of the people.”
The Eid-e-Milad un Nabi is being celebrated by Muslims across the world on 12th of Rabi Al Awwal, the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
According to the sighting of the crescent moon, the 12th of Rabi-Al-Awwal falls on Saturday (September 6) but the holiday on account of festival is being observed today as per the holiday calendar issued by J&K Government’s General Administration Department (GAD). The GAD did not change the date of holiday despite requests from different quarters.
“The calendar printed by the Government press is very clear - “Subject to the appearance of the moon”. It means that the holiday is subject to change depending upon the moon being sighted,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on X.
“The deliberate decision by the unelected government to not shift the holiday is inconsiderate & designed to hurt the sentiments of the people. #EidMiladUnNabi #eidmiladunnabi2025,” he stated.
The issue was flagged off by senior National Conference leader and Health and Education Minister Sakina Itoo.
In a post on X, Itoo said, “This is totally unjust that Eid-e-Milad, a sacred occasion for Muslims worldwide, is not observed as a holiday on the exact date in J&K. What does “subject to appearance of the moon” mean if it is not followed?
Despite repeated requests from the elected Govt 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”
J&K Grand Mufti Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam said it was most unfortunate that despite Eid-e-Milad falling on Saturday as per the moon sighting, the government notification did not reflect the same.
“This total mismatch reflects a negative approach towards a revered day which holds immense spiritual and religious significance,” he said and asked the administration to ensure accuracy and sensitivity in announcing such religiously significant occasions in the future to avoid confusion among the people.
Iltija Mufti, PDP leader and daughter of former CM Mehbooba Mufti, said how unfortunate that a blessed occasion like Eid-e-Milad for Muslims all over the world is not even being observed on the correct day in J&K.
“Month after month we witness how the NC Government even with a brute majority legitimises & normalises such atrocious decisions. India’s only Muslim majority state doesn’t even have the freedom to declare our cherished religious occasions,” she said.
Firebrand PDP leader Muntazir Mehdi said weaponisation of crescent to dehumanise Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir.
Hurriyat Conference chairman and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq strongly condemned the utter disregard of authorities on the revered occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabiﷺ , 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 govt, who fail to take a stand on any issue of the people of J&K,” he said.