The News Craving
Srinagar, July 13:
Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir today paid glowing tributes to the July 13 Martyrs of 1931 with the People’s Conference also lashing out at the authorities for disallowing them from assembling to remember the martyrs.
“This restriction on our peaceful assembly is deeply concerning and infringes upon our right to commemorate the martyrs. Despite this setback, our determination remains unwavering. We shall continue to honor and remember the martyrs in our hearts and work towards achieving their vision of a just and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir”, the People’s Conference said.
The last ruler of Jammu and Kashmir Hari Singh has remained a reviled figure in Kashmir but is being hailed by many political parties in Jammu. The last ruler is being seen as an icon by the BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir which declared his birth anniversary as a public holiday. The move was however opposed by several political parties in Kashmir, who saw Maharja Hari Singh as an autocratic rule in whose tenure “Kashmiris faced a subjugation.”
Political parties today while paying tributes to the 23 people who are killed during the action by state forces outside the central jail in Srinagar in protest to the autocratic setup that prevailed during the time of Maharaj Hari Singh, said that the July 13 Martyrs made the supreme sacrifice.
The separatists as well as the mainstream political parties have been remembering people killed in the July 1931 agitation as the Martyr’s day.
In the past several political parties have been critical of Maharaja Hari Singh’s rule and in fact the National Conference has centered its electoral politics around the idea that the Maharaja was an autocrat and in the past launched a political moment against the Maharaja that culminated in its leader Sheikh Abdullah becoming the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement, PC Provincial President and former legislator Mohammad Khursheed Alam said that this day holds immense significance and will forever remain in our collective memory as a testament to the sacrifices made by these valiant individuals.
“Today, we solemnly reflect upon the sacrifices made by these brave souls and recommit ourselves to upholding the principles they fought for. The martyrs made the ultimate sacrifice, laying down their lives in the pursuit of respect and rights for the people of Kashmir. Their unwavering commitment to the cause has left an indelible mark on our hearts and serves as a constant reminder of the values we hold dear”, he added.
Alam stated that it is unfortunate that he along with other leaders of the party were unjustly detained and denied the opportunity to lead a peaceful gathering of party leaders and workers to offer prayers and pay tributes to the martyrs at Manzar-e-Shohda.
Meanwhile, Chairman PDF and former Minister Hakeem Muhhammad Yaseen has paid rich tribute the martyrs of 13 July , 1931 , who offered supreme sacrifice of their precious lives against the autocracy and for restoration of the basic human rights of oppressed Kashmiris.
In his message on the occasion of Martyrs Day, Hakeem Yaseen , while remembering the supreme sacrifices of 22 valiant martyrs of 13 July, 1931, has said that this day is observed annually to salute their martyrdom which those brave hearts achieved for upholding high values of human rights and seeking freedom from subjugation and tyranny. He said best way to pay tribute to these martyrs was to protect the constitutional and democratic rights of the people.
While urging for self introspection, Hakeem Yaseen has urged political and social organisations of Jammu and Kashmir to imbibe spirit of selfless service and sacrifice from the path shown by the martyrs .
The fresh salvo against the authorities has come at a time when the supreme court is to hear the petition on the abrogation of article 370 on a day today basis from August 2.
