India, Sept. 22 -- A seemingly routine question over government holidays turned into a sharp contest over Jammu and Kashmir's political memory in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, with legislators sparring over which historical figures and events deserve official recognition.

The confrontation came on the second day of the autumn session after National Conference MLA from Anantnag West Abdul Majeed Larmi objected to the government holiday marking the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh - the last ruling Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir - on September 23 and demanded that holidays associated with National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah also be restored.

Larmi said that if the government was prepared to observe Maharaja ...