Srinagar, September 22: The second day of the Autumn Session of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed a discussion over government holidays, with Anantnag West MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi raising a demand for holidays associated with former Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah and July 13 Martyrs’ Day.

The demand triggered objections from BJP legislators, who questioned the proposal during proceedings.

PDP MLA Waheed Para also backed the demand and raised the issue of restoring July 13 as a holiday commemorating those remembered as martyrs of the 1931 events.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said that the Assembly Speaker does not have the authority to grant or remove government holidays, indicating that such decisions fall within the appropriate government/administrative framework.

The issue led to a brief exchange among members as the House continued with the scheduled business of the Autumn Session.