TERMING the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor administration to abolish holidays on Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah's birthday and Martyrs’ Day on July 13 as an attempt to distort history, CPI(M) leader and Kulgam MLA, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami criticised the move.

In a statement issued on December 30, Tarigami said that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was a towering personality, and his contribution to the freedom struggle and empowerment of the people of J&K cannot be ignored. “The empowerment of people we see today came through decisions like land-to-tiller without compensation, education for all, and the empowerment of women, which resulted from that movement,” he said. To downgrade such a towering personality is distortion of history, he added.

Tarigami said it is very unfortunate that July 13 and December 5 have been dropped from the list of holidays for the 2025 calendar year. He said July 13 holds immense historical significance for J&K, as it commemorates the sacrifice of those who laid down their lives protesting against autocratic rule and advocating for human dignity.

Similarly, December 5, Sheikh Sahib's birthday, is of great importance. Sheikh Sahib and his colleagues made great contributions toward empowering people by democratising society, implementing radical land reforms, introducing free education, and empowering women as part of the Naya Kashmir manifesto, he said. Attempts to erase such pivotal milestones from our collective memory undermine the values they represent. The CPI(M) leader said this attempt is being made to further divide people. By such decisions, the administration has insulted the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he noted.

CPI(M) appeals to the people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh to unitedly resist such divisive policies of the central government,” he added.