SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police prevented Apni Party leaders from visiting the “martyrs’ graveyard” to pay homage to 22 Kashmiris killed by the army of a Dogra ruler in 1931, with other leaders reportedly under house arrest.
Led by their president Altaf Bukhari, Apni Party members attempted to march from the party’s Sheikh Bagh office to the graveyard in Naqshband, approximately 5 km away, but were stopped by police.
Subsequently, the leaders conducted “fateh” prayers on the road and paid tributes to the 22 Kashmiris.
“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,” peoples conference Chairman Sajad said in a tweet.
“People have a right to choose their heroes. And the martyrs are heroes for the people of Kashmir,” he said.
“Why be in denial and why on earth would a non-resident government need to meddle in it,” he questioned.
“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,” he added.
“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,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said in a post on ‘X’
The moral compass of this -supposed to be a- democratic nation has gone so much wrong under this BJP regime, that it is now scared of the (13th July) martyrs in graves who gave their lives in the struggle against the ruthless monarchy and autocracy. Martyrs who gave their blood…
— Ruhullah Mehdi (@RuhullahMehdi) July 13, 2024
“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,” she added.
“We stand in strong opposition to the unlawful restrictions imposed on our leaders today, July 13th. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for justice, equality, and truth. Their legacy is a beacon of hope and inspiration, urging us to continue their struggle. We honor their courage by remaining steadfast in our commitment to these ideals, ensuring that their fight was not in vain,” national confidence said in a statement.
“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,” JKNC vice president Omar Abdullah said.
“For the last 6 years we have been barred to pay our respects to Shuhada E Kashmir and today it is no different. I pay my tributes to the valiant martyrs of 1931 and despite all the restrictions to commemorate their martyrdom, their legacy shall remain and prevail. Inshallah,” NC’s Salman Sagar said in a post on ‘X’
MP Srinagar and JKNC leader in a post on X: “The moral compass of this -supposed to be a- democratic nation has gone so much wrong under this BJP regime, that it is now scared of the (13th July) martyrs in graves who gave their lives in the struggle against the ruthless monarchy and autocracy. Martyrs who gave their blood for freedom and human dignity. The police and administration which used pay homage to those brave hearts is now told to block the ways heading towards that graveyard and put locks on the doors of those who want to go and pay their respect to those heroes. This not only is a disrespect to the idea of freedom and democracy, it also is a huge and ugly shift from the values over which this nation was founded.”
The moral compass of this -supposed to be a- democratic nation has gone so much wrong under this BJP regime, that it is now scared of the (13th July) martyrs in graves who gave their lives in the struggle against the ruthless monarchy and autocracy. Martyrs who gave their blood…
— Ruhullah Mehdi (@RuhullahMehdi) July 13, 2024
Meanwhile, sources said that Mirwaiz Kashmir Umar Farooq has also been placed under house arrest.
