Says mission of ‘Naya Kashmir’ will continue
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference’s proposed programme at the Martyrs’ Graveyard (Mazar-e-Shuhada) at Naqshband Sahib, Srinagar, to commemorate Martyrs’ Day was not allowed to proceed following strict restrictions imposed by security forces, with several senior National Conference leaders placed under house detention, preventing them from participating in the scheduled programme.
Following these restrictions, J&K National Conference organized a special commemorative function at its headquarters, Nawa-e-Subha Complex, where rich tributes were paid to the martyrs of 13 July 1931. The programme commenced with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, followed by Fatiha for the departed martyrs. The ceremony was presided over by Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and attended by Party Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Provincial President Adv. Showkat Ahmad Mir, senior party leaders, Members of the Legislative Assembly, office bearers, and party workers.
Paying tributes to the martyrs of 13 July 1931, Omar Abdullah said that carrying forward the mission of the Kashmir martyrs was both a historical and moral responsibility, and that the National Conference would continue its struggle until the martyrs’ vision of Naya Kashmir is realized.
He said it was deeply unfortunate that throughout the country, those who sacrificed their lives against British rule are honoured as martyrs, while in Jammu and Kashmir, people who laid down their lives against autocratic rule and in favour of democracy are not even allowed to be remembered at their graves. He alleged that the restrictions reflected a mindset rooted in religious discrimination, saying the martyrs of Kashmir were Muslims while the ruler they had opposed was a Hindu, and that this, according to him, was the reason behind preventing people from visiting the graves.
Questioning the Central Government’s claims that normalcy had returned to Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said there was a clear contradiction between such claims and the reality on the ground, where ordinary citizens continued to face restrictions similar to those imposed on prisoners. He observed that although many Amarnath Yatras had taken place in the past, there had never been a need to shut down the National Highway or subject the public to such extraordinary hardships.
Earlier in the morning, senior party leader and Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo and Provincial Women’s Wing President Er. Sabiya Qadri, who tried to visit the shrine in the dawn, were stopped by police near Police Station Khanyar and were not allowed to proceed to the Martyrs’ Graveyard.
Among those present at the function were Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo, senior leader Sharif-ud-Din Shariq, Advisors to President and VP Mushtaq Guroo and Mudassar Shahmiri, MLAs Ali Mohammad Dar, Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, Salman Ali Sagar, Ahsan Pardesi, and Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani; State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, Minority Cell Organiser Jagdish Singh Azad; Provincial Women’s Wing President Er. Sabiya Qadri; District President Srinagar Peer Afaq Ahmad; Provincial Youth President Mushtaq Mir, besides several senior leaders, office bearers, and workers.