Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone has called for the restoration of July 13 as an official public holiday, asserting that the day holds a sacred place in the collective memory of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The memory of the July 13 martyrs is both cherished and sacred. Denying a day of remembrance will neither erase their memory nor diminish the sacrifices they made,” Lone stated.
He emphasized that reinstating the July 13 holiday is the bare minimum tribute the state can offer to those who laid down their lives in 1931.
“We support any proposal to officially re-declare July 13 as a holiday. It is the least that we can do for those who sacrificed their lives,” he added.
Extending the scope of remembrance, Lone further stated that all non-combatant civilians killed post-1989 should also be honored as martyrs, underlining a broader and inclusive recognition of sacrifice and suffering.
