Several leaders condemn Martyrs' Graveyard Srinagar related incident
New Delhi, Jul 14: A political storm erupted on Monday after authorities prevented Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar’s Naqashband Sahib area. Leaders from across the political spectrum condemned the move as an attack on democratic rights and federal values.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee expressed her outrage on X (formerly Twitter), calling the incident “unacceptable”, “shocking”, and “shameful”. “What is wrong in visiting the graveyard of martyrs? This is not only unfortunate, it also snatches the democratic right of a citizen,” Banerjee posted. “What happened this morning to an elected Chief Minister @OmarAbdullah is unacceptable,” she added.
Echoing similar sentiments, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M.K. Stalin questioned the appropriateness of preventing an elected leader from participating in a commemorative event. “From Tamil Nadu to Kashmir, the Centre is systematically stripping away the rights of democratically elected governments,” Stalin said, according to NDTV. Referring to the viral old photo of Abdullah, showing him bearded and clad in a woollen cap during his earlier detention. Stalin added he was “deeply troubled” and called for the release of all political prisoners in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister jumped over a boundary wall today, a day after Martyrs’ Day, when Abdullah visited the cemetery to honour 22 civilians killed in 1931 during protests against the Dogra monarchy.
Opposition leaders from other parts of the country joined in the chorus of condemnation. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, “It is reprehensible that the unelected police and unelected administration of Delhi are trying to control an elected Chief Minister. Elected leaders are being put under house arrest,” as reported by News18.
CPI General Secretary D. Raja, as reported by News18, described the events of July 13 as “a blatant assault on our conscience”. He added, “It is utterly unacceptable that the LG’s administration and J&K Police prevented even the elected CM, along with citizens and leaders, from paying their respects at the Martyrs’ Graveyard. Numerous leaders were placed under house arrest, silenced within their own homes on a day of collective remembrance.” Raja renewed the CPI’s demand for the immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also weighed in, taking a poetic swipe at the ruling BJP for what he called “political suffocation” in the Union Territory, reports the media.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has not yet issued a formal explanation for the restrictions. However, senior police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told PTI that the measures were “preventive in nature” to ensure law and order in the sensitive region.
