Milad Holiday Row: CM Says Decision Was Aimed At Hurting People's Sentiments

Milad Holiday Row: CM Says Decision Was Aimed At Hurting People's Sentiments

Srinagar / Jammu, Sept 5, 2025 — The controversy over a government decision on declaring Milad-un-Nabi as a public holiday has escalated, with the Chief Minister asserting that the move — or the signal behind it — was intended to “hurt people’s sentiments.” The statement has set off a series of political reactions, community responses and calls for calm and dialogue.

What the Chief Minister Said

The Chief Minister criticised the decision (or perceived signal) and described it as an attempt to create communal discomfort at a sensitive time. He urged political actors and administrative officials to be mindful of public sentiment and warned against actions that might polarise communities. The CM also called for immediate consultations with community leaders to de-escalate the dispute.

Political Backlash and Support

Opposition parties accused the government of inconsistency and politicising religious observances, while some block-level leaders sought clearer guidelines to avoid confusion. Several civil society groups appealed to all sides to refrain from inflammatory statements, emphasising that decisions around public holidays should be taken with sensitivity and transparency.

Religious Leaders and Community Voices

Local religious representatives expressed disappointment and called for swift redressal. A senior cleric described Milad-un-Nabi as a day of prayer and communal harmony and suggested that administrative clarity — either by formally announcing a holiday or explaining the rationale otherwise — would help restore calm.

Protests and Public Reaction

Though most protests have been peaceful, social media has amplified the debate, with hashtags and opinion threads trending regionally. A few neighbourhood demonstrations demanded either a formal holiday declaration or an apology and assurance that the government would not pursue policies that marginalise any faith community.

Administrative Response

The administration has said it will review the matter and consult stakeholders. Officials emphasised procedural constraints — such as the need for advance notification for public holidays affecting schools, courts and government services — but acknowledged that better communication could have prevented the current unrest.

Legal and Institutional Angles

Legal experts note that decisions on public holidays fall within executive powers but stress the importance of consistent application to avoid perceptions of bias. Several observers suggested exploring a standardized calendar for religious observances to reduce ad hoc decisions and the resulting controversies.

Why This Matters

Observers say the row is emblematic of a larger challenge: how democratic institutions balance secular administrative processes with the need to respect religious sentiments in diverse societies. With elections and local politics closely watched, stakeholders fear that such rows can be used by opportunistic actors to polarise opinion ahead of important civic events.

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Source: Daily Excelsior (Read Original)

Labels: Milad-un-Nabi, Public Holiday Row, Political Reactions, Communal Harmony

Tags: #MiladUnNabi #HolidayRow #DailyExcelsior #JammuKashmir #CommunalHarmony

Quick summary: CM says the Milad holiday decision hurt sentiments; political and religious leaders call for dialogue and clarity to avoid further unrest.

Disclaimer: This is a rewritten summary based on the original report. Jammu News Portal does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of external content.