Ifra Jan accuses PDP of political opportunism; Waheed Para says NC reduced martyrs’ legacy to slogans
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar,(DD)A sharp exchange unfolded on social media between National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders over the legacy of July 13, 1931 — Martyrs’ Day in Jammu and Kashmir.
The friction began after PDP’s Waheed ur Rehman Para accused the National Conference of “reducing the sacrifices of 1931 martyrs to mere symbolism and slogans.” Para alleged that the NC, which ruled J&K for decades, failed to uphold the true spirit of the movement and “betrayed the aspirations of those who laid down their lives.”
In a strong rebuttal, NC’s Ifra Jan shot back, calling Para’s remarks “cheap theatrics” and said, “Those who abandoned July 13 for the sake of power are now pretending to grieve. The NC has preserved this legacy long before many in PDP even acknowledged it.”
She further added, “It takes more than tweets to carry the weight of history.”
The online spat reflects a growing political tension between the two regional parties, both of which claim to be the inheritors of Kashmir’s political and resistance legacy. While the PDP has recently tried to reclaim public space by invoking historical milestones, NC leaders have accused them of revisionism and inconsistency.
The clash comes on a day when the administration barred political leaders from visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Khawajabazar, Nowhatta — a move condemned by both parties earlier in the day.(DD)