Srinagar, July 11 -- The regional parties of Jammu and Kashmir, including the ruling National Conference, have written to Srinagar district magistrate seeking permission to peacefully assemble and pay floral tributes at Mazar-e-Shuhada on the occasion of Martyrs' Day on July 13. In the erstwhile J&K state, July 13 was not only the state holiday but official functions used to be held at martyrs cemetery in the old city. After J&K became UT, the administration cancelled the state holiday and also discontinued functions. NC, in a statement, on Thursday said that for decades, the party has solemnly observed Martyrs' Day on July 13, honouring the valiant sacrifices made in 1931. "After 2019, we have repeatedly been denied the right to commemorate this historic day - a day deeply rooted in the collective memory and political conscience of our people. This year, in keeping with our tradition, we have formally written to the Srinagar district magistrate seeking permission to peacefully assemble and pay floral tributes at Mazar-e-Shuhada," NC spokesperson said. "We sincerely hope that this time, our democratic and peaceful request will be respected," the spokesperson said. "Omar Abdullah government's proposal sent to LG about declaring July 13 and December 5 as public holidays would have carried weight if the speaker had supported PDP's resolution for the same in the assembly. The speaker's outright rejection of the resolution was unexpected and disappointing. Today's exercise looks more like lip service," Mehbooba wrote on X. Meanwhile, Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said that they have moved an application to seek permission to hold a rally at the martyrs cemetery in the old city. "If you don't want to hold a function. Allow us we have already sought permission to hold a rally and pay floral tributes to martyrs of 1931 who laid their lives for the future of J&K," Bukhari said in Srinagar. Four months after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the centre controlled administration of J&K union territory had changed the list of official holidays, doing away with July 13 and December 5 as official holidays and added October 26 - the day the region had acceded to union of India in 1947- to the list. July 13 was observed as Martyr's Day in the erstwhile state of J&K in memory of 21 Kashmiris who were killed by the army of Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh during an uprising in 1931 when the region was a princely state. December 5 is the birthday of National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who is considered J&K's tallest leader among mainstream politicians....