Row Over Eid-e-Milad Holiday In J&K, Abdullah Govt Blames LG For ‘Playing With Emotions’ | India News

Last Updated:September 05, 2025, 14:54 IST

The J&K minister accused the LG administration of “playing with the emotions of the people” as they did not shift the holiday to Saturday from Friday

As per the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi is being celebrated in J&K on Saturday. (Photo: PTI file)

While the country is celebrating Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi today, the Muslim community in Jammu and Kashmir will observe the festival on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a row erupted as the J&K administration announced the holiday for the festival on Friday, instead of Saturday. As per the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi is being celebrated in J&K on Saturday.

J&K Minister Sakina Itoo blamed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s administration for not shifting the holiday on Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi “despite repeated requests”.

The minister accused the LG administration of “playing with the emotions of the people” as they did not shift the holiday to Saturday from Friday.

“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?” Itoo said in a post on X.

She said, “Despite repeated requests” from the elected government 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,” the minister added.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also stated that the administration’s decision not to shift the holiday is inconsiderate and designed to hurt the sentiments of the people.  He shared an image of the calendar printed by the Government press in which September 5 is marked as a holiday for Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi based on 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. #EidMiladUnNabi #eidmiladunnabi2025,” Abdullah said.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti accused the National Conference-led government of the reason why J&K is not observing a holiday today.

“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,” Mufti wrote in a post on X.

Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, the government decided to shift the public holiday on account of Eid-e-Milad in Mumbai city and the suburban district on September 8 instead of September 5.

The move was taken after the Muslim community decided to hold Eid-e-Milad processions on September 8 to ensure harmony, as Anant Chaturdashi falls on September 6, when Ganesh idols will be immersed after public processions, officials said.

Saurabh Verma

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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