Festive mood in Jammu on Maharaja Hari Singh’s birth anniversary

Jammu, Sept 23: Jammu today wore a festive look to mark the celebrations on the occasion of birth anniversary of last Dogra Ruler Maharaja Hari Singh.
      Despite facing tremendous pressure from Jammu-based parties, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti-led Jammu and Kashmir government has decided against declaring September 23, the birth anniversary of the last Hindu ruler of state Maharaja Hari Singh, as a public holiday.
      Maharaja Hari Singh executed the Instrument of Accession--a legal document on October 26, 1947. 
      By executing this document under the provisions of the Indian Independence Act 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh agreed to accede to the Dominion of India.
      Rallies, functions were organised today in the winter capital to celebrate the day with fervor.
      The roads in Jammu wore deserted look while private schools announced holiday.
      The Bar Association of Jammu declared holiday for today in view Maharaja’s birth anniversary.
      J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu, in a meeting held here yesterday under the Chairmanship of its President B S Slathia, Senior Advocate, has decided to celebrate the auspicious day of birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh at District Court Complex, Janipur Jammu and on account of the failure of the coalition Government in fulfilling the genuine aspiration of the people, on account of no decision taken by the state government in this regard.
      ‘’On the auspicious occasion of Birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh, the modern architect of the state of J&K was discussed threadbare,’’ Mr Slathia said.
      He said, ''We the people of state of J&K are with in India holding the National Flag very high only because of Maharaja Hari Singh. We feel highly gratified to the contribution of Maharaja Hari Singh in the socio–political and religious reforms in the state.’’
      It was Maharaja Hari Singh, who established High Court of Judicature in 1928 in the state to bring it at par with the progress of the country, he added.
      The Bar Association, traders organizations, transporters, team Jammu, JPPF, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), National Panthers Party, Congress, National Conference sitting MLC of PDP namely Vikarma Dittya Singh and all other religious and social organizations have time and again raised the issue of declaring the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh as Holiday in the State with the State Government, however, to no avail. 
      Meanwhile Team Jammu—an amalgam of lawyers, doctors, journalists and many Jammu centric NGOs today organized functions at around 70 locations and distributed sweets.
      ‘’It is shameful that BJP, who claimed to be voice of Jammu, once again failed to press the government in declaring holiday on account of Maharaja’s birth anniversary,’’ Zorawar Singh Jamal, Chairman Team Jammu said.
      He said that stalls at many locations were established across Jammu region wherein sweets were distributed among the people and special programs were also organized to mark the celebrations.
      However, a rally of youths shouting ‘Maharaja Ki Jai’ and anti-government slogans was also taken out in Jammu city.
      Tight security arrangements were made around the winter capital to prevent any law and order problem.
      Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party headed by its Chairman Harsh Dev Singh held protest demonstration this morning against the J&K government in failing to announce state holiday.  UNI