SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday strongly criticised the restrictions imposed on political leaders from visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard (Mazar-e-Shuhada) on July 13, saying the sacrifices of the 1931 martyrs cannot be erased through barricades or restrictions.
Addressing reporters at the National Conference headquarters after offering floral tributes to the July 13 martyrs, Omar Abdullah said those who ordered the closure of the Martyrs’ Graveyard should first understand the history of Jammu and Kashmir before taking such decisions.
He said the 1931 martyrs laid down their lives while resisting oppression and defending the dignity and democratic rights of the people, adding that preventing political leaders and citizens from paying homage to them was deeply unfortunate.
The Chief Minister rejected attempts to portray the events of July 13, 1931, through a religious lens, asserting that the movement was not communal but a struggle against injustice, oppression and authoritarian rule to secure democratic rights for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Alleging attempts to distort the historical significance of July 13, Omar Abdullah said history cannot be rewritten by changing narratives.
Expressing disappointment over the security restrictions around Mazar-e-Shuhada, he said only a limited number of people intended to visit the graveyard to offer tributes, yet the authorities treated the occasion as a major security concern.
He further said that if the administration repeatedly claims that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is normal, such restrictions convey a different message. He also questioned why political leaders and citizens were prevented from visiting the memorial, saying similar restrictions had not been witnessed during previous Amarnath Yatra periods.
Omar Abdullah said those responsible for preventing the visit were only temporary occupants of their positions, while the people of Jammu and Kashmir would always remain.
“Those who stopped us today will not remain forever. The people of Jammu and Kashmir will remain here, and if not today, then tomorrow or the day after, we will certainly visit Mazar-e-Shuhada to pay our respects,” he said.
Reaffirming his commitment to honouring the July 13 martyrs, the Chief Minister said their sacrifices would continue to be remembered and respected regardless of any restrictions imposed by the authorities.
In July 2025, Omar Abdullah had scaled the boundary wall and gate of the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqshband Sahib after the administration locked the gates and restricted access, to pay tributes to the 1931 martyrs.
