Srinagar restrictions grave affront to democracy: Dy CM

Srinagar, Jul 15: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary has come down heavily on the authorities over the restrictions imposed in Srinagar on July 14, calling the move an open betrayal of democratic principles and an affront to the collective will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Choudhary, while speaking to media persons on Tuesday, strongly objected to the alleged police curbs that stopped political leaders from paying homage to the July 13 martyrs. “This land has been watered with the blood of martyrs. The sacrifices of our sons and daughters brought us the democracy we live in today. What happened yesterday goes against everything those sacrifices stood for,” he said.
He said that denying Omar Abdullah, a popularly elected Chief Minister, the right to participate in such a solemn occasion was not only a personal insult but a blow to the very idea of representative governance. “This is not just about Omar Sahib,” Choudhary remarked. “This is an insult to the institution of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, an insult to Indian democracy, and a betrayal of the people who exercised their right to vote.”
Asked about the status of statehood, Choudhary said the issue is separate but warned against mistaking silence for weakness. “Let no one be mistaken. If anyone believes they can disrespect our leadership or attempt to humiliate them, we will not remain silent — and neither will the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Choudhary also questioned the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s delayed reaction to the April 22 militant attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. “It took 82 days for the LG to acknowledge the attack. One day, perhaps, he will also acknowledge that what happened with Omar Sahib was wrong — and that the police, under his administration, acted in a manner unbefitting a democracy. He owes the people an apology,” Choudhary added.
The Deputy CM’s fiery remarks come amid rising tensions in political circles over the events surrounding Martyrs’ Day, when mainstream leaders were prevented from reaching the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar. The move has triggered a political backlash across party lines and is being widely viewed as a deliberate suppression of democratic space in the region. [KNT]