Political leaders prevented from visiting martyrs' graveyard in Srinagar

Srinagar, July 13: Authorities on Saturday barred several political leaders from visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada in Srinagar to pay homage to martyrs of July 13.

The leaders stated that sacrifices of martyrs are a testament that the spirit of Kashmiris cannot be crushed.

National Conference (NC) vice-president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah while paying rich tributes to July 13 martyrs said the precious lives have been sacrificed to establish a just, fair and democratic system in Jammu and Kashmir.

He lashed out at the present dispensation, saying this is the last year they are able to do this, as next year we will mark the occasion with the solemnity and respect this day deserves.

Taking to micro-blogging site X, the former chief minister said: “Another 13th July, Martyr’s Day, another round of locked gates & police excesses to stop people from paying homage to those who sacrificed their lives to establish a just, fair & democratic regime in J&K. Everywhere else in the country these people would have been celebrated but in J&K the administration wants to ignore these sacrifices. This is the last year they will be able to do this. InshaAllah next year we will mark 13th July with the solemnity & respect this day deserves”.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the action of authorities of keeping political leaders confined.

She said on August 05, 2019 Jammu & Kashmir was "dismembered, disempowered and stripped of everything that was sacrosanct for us and the government intends to erase each one of our collective memories."

In a post on X, Mehbooba said: “The gates of my house have been locked up yet again to prevent me from visiting Mazar e Shuhada - an enduring symbol of Kashmir’s resistance & resilience against authoritarianism, oppression & injustice. The sacrifices of our martyrs is a testament that the spirit of Kashmiri’s cannot be crushed. Today even observing it in remembrance of the protesters martyred on this day has been criminalised. On 5th August, 2019 J&K was dismembered, disempowered & stripped of everything that was sacrosanct for us. They intend to erase each one of our collective memories. But such assaults will only strengthen our determination to continue the fight for our rights & dignity”.

Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party leaders were also stopped from visiting the graveyard to pay tributes to July 13 martyrs.

The party started a march led by party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari from Sheikh Bagh Srinagar, however police stopped the march and prevented leaders from proceeding towards Mazar-e-Shuhada.

The leaders on the occasion offered fatiha and paid tributes to those who sacrificed their lives on July 13 for establishing just and democratic system in J&K.

Earlier Apni Party in a statement said, “July 13 holds great significance in J&K’s history, as it marks the sacrifice of numerous ancestors who laid down their lives on this day in 1931, paving the way for democracy to take root. This historic day marks the dawn of a democratic era in Jammu and Kashmir. We are committed to upholding the mission of these martyrs by continuing our peaceful struggle to strengthen democracy and its institutions in J&K, ensuring that the people of this region are no longer deprived of the benefits of democracy”.

J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) chairman Sajad Gani Lone also took to X and expressed his dismay over keeping him under house arrest. He said people have a right to choose their heroes, and martyrs are heroes for the people of Kashmir.

“For no reason informed of being under house arrest. I really fail to understand what the administration gets in stopping people from going to the martyrs graveyard,” Lone posted on X.

He said, “People have a right to choose their heroes. And the martyrs are heroes for the people of Kashmir. Why be in a denial and why on earth would a non resident government need to meddle in it.”

Lone further said, “Actually believing that a government will decide on what has been historically heroic and who are the historical heroes is an unambiguous sign of despotism.”