Atiya Mujeeb
SRINAGAR, July 13: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the authorities for preventing National Conference leaders from visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard to pay tributes on July 13, describing the restrictions as “unfortunate” and asserting that such measures would not erase the significance of the day.
Addressing reporters, Abdullah said those who stopped them from offering tributes were only in power temporarily. “Those who barred us today will leave tomorrow,” he said, adding that he remained committed to paying homage to the July 13 martyrs.
The Chief Minister alleged that the July 13 martyrs were being ignored because they were Muslims and the ruler of the erstwhile princely state at the time was a Dogra. He maintained that the events of 1931 represented a struggle for democracy and against oppression, rather than a religious movement.
Abdullah said the restrictions imposed around the Mazar-e-Shuhada contradicted repeated claims that normalcy had returned to Jammu and Kashmir. He termed the security clampdown around the graveyard “unfortunate” and questioned why political leaders were prevented from offering tributes.
Responding to a legal notice reportedly issued by the BJP over his recent remarks, Abdullah dismissed it as a “love letter” and accused the party of relying on legal action instead of engaging politically.
