Former CMs, mainstream politicians, DGP pay tributes to 1931 martyrs

Srinagar, Jul 13: Former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah and leaders of mainstream political parties besides Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and Director General of Police (DGP) paid floral tributes to 23 martyrs of 1931 who were killed by Dogra police outside the central Jail, Srinagar.

Governor N N Vohra in a message on the Martyrs’ Day, observed that Jammu and Kashmir has been known for its glorious pluralistic ethos, amity and brotherhood, and urged the people to work towards restoring the pristine glory of the State as an abode of peace, harmony and prosperity.

However, Mr Abdullah, vice-president of the National Conference (NC) took a dig at the Governor for not attending the day at Martyrs grave yard at Naqashband sahib shrine on Friday.

Taking to micro blogging site twitter, Mr Abdullah said, “ After Governor Vohra’s inability to attend it is unfortunate that none of his advisors have seen it fit to be present. It’s been downgraded to the level of Div Com where normally the CM leads the function”.

All roads leading to graveyard were sealed and only politicians and government officials were being allowed to pay tributes.

Former CM and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba, alongwith a number of party legislators and leaders, paid floral tributes to martyrs of 1931. She offered “fateha” there.

However, talking to reporters she warned that if New Delhi (BJP) government will try to break her PDP party and form a government in the state, it will be dangerous. There could be 1989 like situation in the valley when militancy was given birth and people like Mohammad Yousuf Shah alias Syed Salahuuddin, Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir (PoK) based chief of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and JKLF chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik took to arms.

Ms Mehbooba had to resign last month after alliance BJP pulled out from the over three year old coalition government in the state.