With the Jammu and Kashmir administration not shifting the Eid Milad-un-Nabi holiday to Saturday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken on the Lieutenant-Governor’s administration, terming it a deliberate decision “designed to hurt the sentiments of the people”.This is the second time in as many years that the administration led by the Lieutenant Governor has not announced a holiday on important religious days for Muslims. Last year, the L-G administration marked the employees absent for not attending duties on Eid.AdvertisementWhile the official holiday calendar lists September 5 as the holiday for Eid Milad-un-Nabi, commemorated as the birthday of the Prophet, in the Valley, it is set to be observed on Saturday. The official calendar notes that Muslim holidays are “subject to the appearance of the moon” as the community follows the lunar Islamic calendar. This year, Eid Milad-un-Nabi is on Saturday but, against the practice, the administration did not shift the holiday and instead went with the pre-published date.The tradition is that J&K’s General Administration Department issues a notification announcing the shifting of a holiday if it doesn’t coincide with the pre-published holiday calendar. The decision not to shift the holiday to Saturday has people in the Valley calling it a “direct attack on Muslim religious sensitivities” on the most important day.The Omar Abdullah-led elected government that is already in confrontation with the L-G took him on. “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. The deliberate decision by the unelected government to not shift the holiday is inconsiderate & designed to hurt the sentiments of the people,” Omar posted on X.AdvertisementJ&K’s Education Minister Sakina Itoo also criticised the L-G administration for not shifting the holiday despite “repeated requests from the elected government”.“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 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 posted on X.The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called the decision unfortunate but pinned the blame on the Omar government. “It pains the heart that a sacred occasion like Eid-e-Milad, a day of love, light, and reverence for Muslims across the world is not even being observed on the correct day in Jammu & Kashmir. In what was once a proud Muslim majority state, we are now denied even the basic freedom to celebrate our most cherished religious milestones with dignity and authenticity. What’s more tragic is how the NC government, instead of standing firm, appears to be passively normalising these deeply hurtful and unjust decisions. Very unfortunate that today we have come to a point where even our faith must wait for approval,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told The Indian Express.The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) of jailed MP Engineer Rashid called the decision a “brazen disregard of the religious sentiments of the Muslim community”.“At a time when the authorities should be working to build confidence and trust, they are creating avoidable controversies on sacred occasions,” AIP spokesperson Inam un Nabi said. “This is not a matter of politics but of faith and respect and the administration must realise the gravity of such insensitivity.”Valley chief cleric and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called it an “utter disregard for the sentiments of the Muslim community”, raising the issue in his Friday sermon at Srinagar’s grand mosque.“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,” Mirwaiz said. “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.”This is the second time that such a controversy has erupted in the valley. Last year, on April 10, the L-G administration failed to announce the holiday on Eid al-Fitr and instead announced a holiday day later. While many employees were forced to attend duties on Eid, those who didn’t were marked absent.most readEver since the National Conference (NC) came into power last year, the relations between the Omar government and the Raj Bhawan have not been cordial. This March, the Cabinet prepared a draft proposal of the Business Conduct Rules and sent it to the Raj Bhawan for approval to ensure a clear demarcation between the functioning of the elected government and the L-G. However, with approval from the latter yet to come, many in the NC allege the L-G’s interference in the functioning of an elected government.Sinha, however, has clarified from time to time that he knows his limit and does not cross the boundaries of governance. On one occasion, while responding to Itoo’s demands at a function in Kashmir, he said that “he only has the police with him”.The latest controversy comes days after Omar came under fire from the Opposition that alleged he had pushed to the fringes of a photograph, even behind the security guards surrounding Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the latter’s visit to the Union Territory to review the flood situation. They said it was another proof of the Abdullah government kowtowing to the Centre without getting anything in return.