Police foil attempts by political parties to visit martyrs graveyard

Srinagar, Jul 13: The authorities on Saturday foiled the attempts by the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to visit the martyrs’ graveyard here on the 93rd martyrdom anniversary of the July 13, 1931 martyrs. Some of the leaders were also put under house arrested today.
The leaders from regional parties including National Conference (NC) and Apni Party tried to visit the martyrs graveyard in order to pay their respect and offer Fateha Khawani.
However, the leaders were stopped from visiting the graveyard.
National Conference in a post on X, stated that the top leadership of the party was put under house detention while the dedicated workers tried to reach the martyrs graveyard today, but they were stopped by police.
“The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference held a peaceful gathering at our Party Headquarters to honor the brave souls who sacrificed their lives on July 13, 1931. Despite our top leadership being under house arrest, our dedicated workers attempted to visit Mazar-e-Shouda to pay their respects, but the police stopped us from reaching the site. Our commitment to their legacy of justice, equality, and truth remains steadfast. Their courage inspires us to continue our struggle for a better future,” JKNC wrote.
Apni Party leaders led by its president Syed Altaf Bukhari attempted to visit the martyrs’ graveyard, but were stopped outside the Bukhari’s residence.
Party’s senior leader, Muntazir Mohi-ud-din while speaking to the media persons said that the party had decided to visit the martyrs graveyard to pay homage to them, but they were stopped from heading towards the graveyard.
Moreover, Mehbooba Mufti, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister of erstwhile J&K state informed that she has been put under house detention as the gates of her house have been locked yet again.
“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. 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,” Mehbooba wrote on X.
Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman and former minister, Sajad Gani Lone in a post said that he has been put under house detention for no reason.
“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. People have a right to choose their heroes. And the martyrs are heroes for the people of Kashmir. Why be in a denial and why on earth would a non resident government need to meddle in it. 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,” Lone said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, CPI (M) leader and former MLA Kulgam, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami in a statement said that 13th July 1931 is the one of the most important days in the annals of recent Kashmir history.
“1931 uprising of victimized and oppressed people against the despotic rule can not be erased from history. Not allowing the official commemoration of this historic day, and stopping the political leaders and social activists to visit Mazari Shuhuda to pay homage to the martyrs is an attempt to change the history of Kashmir and erase the collective memory of the people,” Tarigami said.
Through these desperate attempts, the administration cannot remove the memory of this historic day from the hearts and minds of our people, he said.
Meanwhile, CPI (M) paid rich tributes to those who laid down their lives for a better future for our people. The sacrifices of these courageous men to free society from the shackles of autocracy and tyranny cannot be forgotten, the statement added.