Says true heroes are being vilified because they were Muslims; vows their sacrifices will not be forgotten
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD)Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today strongly condemned the administration’s decision to deny permission for paying homage at the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Khawajabazar, Nowhatta, on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, observed annually on July 13.
In a sharp and emotionally charged statement, CM Omar said:
“The 13th July massacre is our Jallianwala Bagh. The people who laid down their lives did so against the British. Kashmir was being ruled under the British Paramountcy. What a shame that true heroes who fought against British rule in all its forms are today projected as villains only because they were Muslims. We may be denied the opportunity to visit their graves today, but we will not forget their sacrifices.”
The Chief Minister’s remarks came after the Srinagar administration issued orders barring all gatherings near the graveyard and prohibiting any public movement towards the site. The move has been widely criticised by opposition parties and civil society members who see it as an attempt to erase a significant chapter of Kashmir’s resistance history.
Senior National Conference leaders including Nasir Aslam Wani (Sogami) and Tanvir Sadiq also expressed their anguish over the restrictions, reaffirming that the 1931 martyrs’ legacy lives on despite the political attempts to suppress remembrance.
“History cannot be locked down. The blood of the martyrs will continue to inspire generations,” said Nasir Sogami(DD)
