Nobody can erase memory of 1931 martyrs of Kashmir, restrictions on visiting graveyard despotic: Regional political parties
Jammu and Kashmir and other regional politicians were disallowed to visit the martyrs graveyard in downtown Srinagar on Saturday to commemorate the killing of 22 people on this day in 1931 by the forces of the then Dogra ruler of the erstwhile state of J&K
The authorities had also sealed the graveyard in the premises of Naqshband sahib shrine in Srinagar and deployed policemen to scuttle any gathering there. The political parties alleged that the administration had placed their leaders under house arrest and termed it as «despotic» and an attempt to erase collective memory of J&K. Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was also placed under house arrest.
«Another 13th July, Martyr’s Day, another round of locked gates and police excesses to stop people from paying homage to those who sacrificed their lives to establish a just, fair and 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,» said Omar Abdullah of the National Conference. He hoped that the assembly election would be held soon and this is the last year the administration would be able to do this. «InshaAllah next year we will mark 13th July with the solemnity and respect this day deserves,» he said.
Another former chief minister of J&K Mehbooba Mufti shared a photo of the locked gates of her residence on social media stating, «the gates of my house have been locked up yet again to prevent me from visiting Mazar e Shuhada — an enduring symbol of
