Former JK CMs, other political leaders pay tributes to Jul 13 martyrs

Srinagar, Jul 13: The former chief ministers of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State and other political leaders here on Tuesday paid tributes to the July 13, 1931 martyrs.
According to a statement, National Conference (NC) President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah led the party functionaries in offering Fateh to the Martyrs of 1931 here at party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar.
In his address, Dr. Farooq recalled the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs of 13 July 1931 and paid homage to each of them and many such unsung heroes who laid their lives for dignity and political rights of people of J&K. “13th July is a turning point in the history of Jammu & Kashmir. On the eventful day, the people of Kashmir unlocked themselves from the years of coyness that had snared them. The intrepid and dauntless heroism shown by our unarmed martyrs will continue to inspire forthcoming generations to eternity; no matter how many years pass the pain that was inflicted on the hearts of Kashmiri on that day will always remain the same. We will never fail to remember their supreme sacrifice for liberating the future generations from the years of bondage and despotic rule,” he said.
He said that it was Sher-e-Kashmir, who took it upon himself to carry forward the legacy of our fallen heroes. This distinctive feature of our community character, he held, was fashioned by many sacrifices and manifested in the ideology of the National Conference in the shape of appropriation of J&K’s aspirations for an environment that guarantees a suitable accommodation of our indigenous socio-political complexes within the Union of India.
“Our best tribute to our heroes will be to continue with our peaceful, democratic and constitutional struggle in getting our historical individuality back. With 13th July martyrs as our guiding stars, I’m sure we will steer Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh to safer shores,” he said.
He said that during his audience with the PM, he brought the ever increasing trust deficit between New Delhi and J&K to its notice and that it was for New Delhi to come out of its shell and recognize Jammu & Kashmir’s individuality shaped by the sacrifices like 13 July 1931.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also paid glowing tributes to martyrs, stating that their role in Jammu and Kashmir’s freedom struggle can neither be undone nor can be forgotten.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that on “Martyrs day gates leading to their graveyards have been locked up. Attempts to distort and rewrite Kashmir`s history is being done to create a sense of defeat and helplessness amongst Kashmiris.”
“Nevertheless as we pay homage to the heroes of 13th July 1931 our resolve to strive for restoration of J&K’s dignity remains firm,” she said. Meanwhile, the party organised a commemoration event to pay homage to the martyrs at the party headquarters in Srinagar. The event was attended and addressed by senior leaders of the party.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) paid glowing tributes to 1931 Martyr’s, hailing their vision and bravery. The party said Martyr’s laid down their lives for justice equality and against barbarism, their sacrifices shall always be remembered.
Remembering 1931 Martyr’s, JKPCC said that the sacrifices of 1931 Martyr’s shall always be remembered, as that, they fought against the autocracy and barbarism, besides honour of the people.
The best way to pay homage to 1931 Martyr’s was to defeat those forces, who were hell-bent upon to harm the age old tradition of brother and unity in J&K, JKPCC added.
Paying rich tributes to July 13, 1931 martyrs, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said Naya Kashmir which was drafted with their blood was dismantled on August 5, 2019.
It was due to the supreme sacrifices of July 13 martyrs that ultimately led a way for Naya Kashmir which is notable for its humanistic view of development. By virtue of it, J&K made significant strides including landmark Agrarian Reforms, free education to all, political and economic rights to women, upliftment of weaker sections of population, including peasants and tenets got empowered. Similarly, it ensured the empowerment of ethnic groups, including Dalits, he said.
The constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir was also the outcome of the ‘Naya Kashmir’ and J&K’s special status under Article 370 was the outcome of the struggle of the 1931 martyrs, he added.
“However, unfortunately on August 5, 2019, BJP government unilaterally dismantled whatever little was left. With a stroke of pen, J&K’s special status under Article 370 was abrogated and erstwhile state was downgraded and bifurcated into two union territories. New narrative of BJP government is to make a ‘Naya Kashmir’ where even you are not allowed to mourn and visit the graves of the July 13 martyrs to pay homage to them. In the last two years silence of people, achieved by force, is being projected as acceptance of BJP government’s unconstitutional and arbitrary decisions. But in reality treating silence by force as acceptance is a biggest mistake,” he said.