In an important step to implant patriotism, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday ordered replacement of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah embossed on one side of the Police medal for Gallantry and Meritorious Service with the National Emblem of Government of India.

 

Other side of the medal inscribed with J&K State Emblem shall b inscribed as "Jammu and Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry" and 'Jammu and Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Services'. The police medals were instituted in 2001 and are given on New Year, Republic Day and Independence Day in two categories - gallantry and meritorious services.

 

It is also to mention here that in 2019, the J&K administration had dropped ex-chief minister Sheikh Abdullah's birth anniversary from it's list of public holidays for 2020. The Govt. had included, October 26 which is observed as "Accession Day" on the list of Holidays.

 

 

 

 

Two public holidays -- Martyrs' Day observed on July 13 and the birth anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah on December 5 -- were dropped from the list of holidays for the year 2020.

 

It is important to mention here that earlier, in January 2020, the J&K administration had changed the nomenclature of police medal for gallantry and police medal for meritorious service by dropping the word 'Sher-i-Kashmir' from the titles of the awards. 'Sher-I-Kashmir' was a reference to National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. It was dropped from the title of the J&K police medal months after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in August 2019.

 

Well it also pertains to mention here that demands are also being raised for long time to change the name of Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology Jammu(SKUAST -J) to Baba Jitto Agricultural University Jammu. There are so many roads , bridges and buildings here with Sheikh Abdullah's name inscribed on them. People have been demanding change of nomenclatures of these bulidings and bridges with the names of martyrs who died fighting for the nation.