SRINAGAR: Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Saturday announced that its president and incarcerated Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Engineer Rashid, will observe a token hunger strike on July 13 to pay tribute to the martyrs of 1931 and protest what the party termed the continued disregard for their legacy by both the Union Government and the Jammu and Kashmir Government.
MP Er. Rasheed to Observe Hunger Strike on July 13 to Honour 1931 Martyrs pic.twitter.com/v7iY13GRxm
— Abrar Rashid (@abrarrashid29) July 10, 2026
Making the announcement, AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said the July 13, 1931 martyrs hold a significant place in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that their sacrifice marked a turning point in the region’s struggle for justice, civil liberties, representative governance and democratic rights.
He said the 22 martyrs laid down their lives while raising their voice against autocratic rule, adding that their sacrifice inspired the movement for constitutional and democratic rights in Jammu and Kashmir.
The AIP spokesperson alleged that official observances linked to July 13 were discontinued during the PDP-BJP coalition government in 2015, following which, according to the party, a different official narrative regarding the day began to emerge.
Inam Un Nabi also alleged that people have since been prevented from freely visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard to pay homage.
He said the proposed token hunger strike by Engineer Rashid was intended to reaffirm that “history cannot be erased or rewritten through administrative decisions.”
“Attempts to distort historical facts or diminish the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for the democratic and political rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir will never succeed. Their sacrifices remain an inseparable part of our collective memory and political consciousness,” he said.
The AIP spokesperson added that despite being incarcerated, Engineer Rashid continues to raise issues concerning the political rights, identity and historical legacy of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the party believes that historical events should be remembered with respect and that no government can erase or rewrite the sacrifices that shaped the democratic aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
