LG J&K declares Maharaja Hari Singh's birthday a public holiday

In a historic decision, J&K Government on Thursday evening declared Maharaja Hari Singh's birthday, 23 September, a public holiday. A notification in this regard will be issued soon.

Pertinently, it was Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler of the princely state of J&K who had signed the Instrument of Accession of J&K to India in 1947 after Pakistani army and raiders attacked the state.

An announcement in this regard was made by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha following his meeting with a delegation comprising of prominent political leaders, members of the Yuva Rajput Sabha, civil society members, including head of J&K transport union, at the Raj Bhavan today.

The government has taken a decision to declare Maharaja Hari Singh Ji's birthday as a public holiday. Maharaja Hari Singh was a great educationist, progressive thinker, social reformer and a towering man of ideas and ideals. The public holiday will be a fitting tribute to Maharaja Hari Singh Ji's rich legacy,” the Lieutenant Governor observed.

It is also to be mentioned here that on the directions of Lt Governor, a four-member committee was constituted by the UT administration earlier this year to examine the long pending public demand regarding holiday on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.

Earlier on 10 September, Karan Singh, son of Maharaja Hari Singh, had endorsed the demand of the locals to declare September 23 a public holiday.

Jubilant BJP leaders from Jammu and Kashmir and Yuva Rajput Sabha members expressed their gratitude to the Home minister Amit Shah, BJP's central leadership and J&K LG Manoj Sinha for conceding a long pending demand of the people of Jammu region to announce public holiday on the birth anniversary of last Dogra king Maharaja Hari Singh.