J&K parties barred from paying tributes on Martyrs’ Day

Jammu and Kashmir political parties, together with the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday alleged they had been denied permission to pay tributes on the graveyard in Srinagar’s Naqsband Sahib of twenty-two Kashmiris, who died throughout an anti-monarchy insurrection on July 13, 1931. Meanwhile, a shutdown affected life within the Valley.

“In view of the government imposed restrictions, party functionaries, led by its president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, paid glowing tributes and offered ‘fateh’ [prayers] to the July 13 martyrs at the party office, Nawa-e-Subah, this morning,” NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar mentioned.

In a joint assertion, Dr. Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah described the 1931 episode, which occurred through the Dogra regime, as “a landmark in the history of J&K”.

“Their sacrifices resulted in the transformation of the State from a feudalistic to a democratic one. The brave men belonged to a generation of wisdom and vision. They saw in darkness and despair, a vision for the forthcoming generations; they envisioned a society free from bondage, discrimination and oppression,” they mentioned.

Rise of Sheikh Abdullah

The 1931 episode had seen the rise of the NC and its patron Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on the political horizon of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sheikh Abdullah’s granddaughter Nyla Ali Khan, who teaches in Oklahoma, U.S., mentioned, “Sheikh sahib once said he felt as if the bullets were penetrating his heart. His political life in the real sense starts with this firing on the people. He said he was greatly influenced by this incident”.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti mentioned, “Today on the occasion of ‘Martyrs Day’, the gates leading to their graveyards have been locked up. Attempts to distort and rewrite Kashmir’s history is being done only to create a sense of defeat and helplessness amongst Kashmiris. Nevertheless, as we pay homage to the heroes of 13th July, 1931, our resolve to strive for restoration of J&K’s dignity remains firm.”

Sajad Lone’s Peoples Conference and J&K Apni Party additionally paid tributes to the anti-Dogra protesters. “They were the first torch-bearers of establishing democracy in this region,” Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari mentioned.

Restrictions, shutdown in Valley

Meanwhile, elements of the outdated metropolis, particularly the roads resulting in the graveyard, had been blocked with concertina wires and barricades by safety forces. Most retailers and enterprise institutions remained closed and there was skeletal visitors on the roads.

A shutdown name was given by separatists, together with the Hurriyat headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on the event.

Till 2019, July 13 was being noticed as ‘Martyrs Day’ and senior officers, together with the Governor, cops, and political parties, would supply their tributes on the graveyard. However, after the abrogation of J&K’s particular constitutional place in August 2019, the Lieutenant Governor’s administration dropped July 13 from J&K’s official vacation calendar. Since then, no official visits the graveyard or points any assertion on the event.