Jammu & Kashmir’s regional parties on Monday described Governor Satya Pal Malik’s directive to officials to “compulsorily attend” the Republic Day functions as “enforced patriotism.”
“Nationalism can never be dictated. There should be will for such events, not forced diktats. This clears how things happen and are happening in the ‘integral’ part. Patriotism can’t be enforced; it should be inherent,” said Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Ur Rehman.
Former independent MLA and Awami Itehad Party (AIP) Chief Engineer Rashid, terming the order “unconstitutional”, said, “Nationalism cannot be imposed on government staff.”
Governor Malik has, in his recent directive, asked all government officers and officials posted at Jammu and Srinagar, “to attend the celebrations as part of their official duty.”
“It is the duty of every government servant to attend the Republic Day function, which marks an important turning point in the history of the nation,” the order reads.
Mr. Malik also directed that the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation Limited (JKTDC) and Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) ferry the employees to the main venues at summer capital Srinagar and winter capital Jammu on January 26.
Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah, while taking exception to the order, said, “Attendance has been made compulsory in the past as well. In fact, late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed used State transport and police vehicles to bring supporters to show how much the situation [in Kashmir] was ‘improving’.”
