Sher-i-Kashmir removed from SKICC title

Srinagar, March 8

The government has removed the Sher-i-Kashmir prefix from the name of Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), a title attributed to Sheikh Abdullah who was the first Prime Minister of Kashmir and was known as the “Lion of Kashmir”.

The state-owned palatial guest house located on the banks of the Dal Lake has now been renamed Kashmir International Conference Complex which is visible from the newly replaced board at the gate of the building.

The SKICC was turned into a subsidiary jail since the scrapping of the special status of J&K under Article 370 on August 5 last year and all high-profile political leaders from the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were kept in detention there. The complex is also being used for political events and high-profile gatherings due to its picturesque location. Earlier, the government after the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir state into two centrally-ruled Union Territories also cancelled public holidays on December 5 and July 13. December 5 is commemorated as the birth anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah. July 13 was observed as Martyrs’ Day in Jammu and Kashmir.

The changes caused resentment among people and political leaders, including the Sheikh family, whose party has ruled most of the last seven decades in Kashmir.

On January 26, during the commemoration of the Republic Day, the government also removed the prefix Sher-i-Kashmir (as Sheikh Abdullah is known) from Jammu and Kashmir Police Medals, which were renamed Jammu and Kashmir Police Medals. — TNS