Mainstream parties pay tributes to 1931 martyrs
Srinagar: Barring BJP, majority of Kashmir-based mainstream parties Saturday visited Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqshband Sahib Srinagar where they paid floral tributes to the 22 Kashmiris killed outside Srinagar’s Central Jail by the Dogra forces on July 13, 1931.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party president and Member of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday led the party in paying floral tributes at Mazar- e- Shuhada, Kwajabazar following the annual observance of Martyr’s day.
Party president laid the floral wreaths on the epitaphs of the martyrs.
Later he participated in the Fatiha khawani on the occasion. Scores of party functionaries, workers also offered floral tributes at the martyr’s graveyard.
Addressing scores of party functionaries, workers Farooq said the incident of 1931 was the culmination of the growing unrest in the people against the oppressor and the tyrant.
“The martyrs gave their life for securing dignity and self-respect of their countrymen. Never had Kashmir witnessed a forceful upsurge until 1931, a profound departure from the traditional stoism,” he said.
The incident, he said, taught all shades of opinion not to imagine them separate of an all embracing Muslim identity which subsequently became vibrant with the toil of Sher-e-Kashmir.
“Not just Muslims, Sheikh Sahib told masses that the ills of the masses can be remedied by carrying Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs together. It was the sincere sacrifice of the 1931 Martyrs that kept fueling Sher-e-Kashmir in his long struggle for justice and dignity,” Farooq added.
National Conference, he said, has since its inception “symbolized the sacrifice of the great martyrs of 1931”.
“The revolutionary party manifesto of Naya Kashmir was a comprehensive document that also echoed the genuine aspirations of the people of Kashmir in particular and the state in general.”
He also said that people were currently being “denied a vibrant press”.
“The sole reason behind the curbs is to pressurize the media fraternity from not reporting the issues of greater public importance. Today an unconventional version of democracy is being pushed on us. This all is done to suit the purpose of forces as are inimical to the special status of the state. The reason behind such unscrupulous and undemocratic gags on local dailies is to impede their impartial working. Putting curbs on the press is analogous to throttling democracy. It must end without any delay. The ban of Government ads to various local dailies should be revoked,” added Farooq
Exhorting the workers, and functionaries to rally around the party flag, he asked, “How can the ailing valley of ours be redeemed in absence of popular government?”
“Today our state in particular the valley of Kashmir inadvertently is caught in a blizzard,” he added.
Farooq said the forces inimical to the state’s special constitutional position “will try their level best to widen the communal tension in the state”.
“Such forces as want to rob our state of its flag, of its own constitution and of its unique constitutional identity will employ all sorts of dishonest routes to achieve their end. They will try to buy our conviction with money and muscle power. They will use their servile henchmen in the state to divide the voice of Kashmiri Muslims”.
Party president said the people of the state particularly the people of valley were “snowed under the relentless gags, diktats, bans and curfews”.
“The gap between the government and the people has increased. On one hand we are fighting for our identity, on the other we are denied our due share in development. Today the people of Kashmir are feeling alienated in their own land,” he said.
He however said that the supreme sacrifice of the 1931 martyrs will continue to motor us in our struggle against injustice.
Their supreme sacrifice will continue to guide our steps, he said.
He said that coming generations will continue to draw inspiration from them.
“The Martyrs of 1931 will continue to a beacon of humanity’s struggle for justice and dignity,” he added.
Earlier party president also paid obeisance at the shrine of Naqshband Sahib (RA). The shrine in located in the vicinity of martyrs grave yard. Party president while paying obeisance at the shrine prayed for peace and prosperity of the state.
Among others party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, senior leaders Dr Sheikh Mustufa Kamal, Abdul Rahim Rather, Nasir Aslam Wani, Mubarak Gul, Shameema Firdous, Hasnain Masoodi, Ali Muhammad Dar, Pirzada Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Syed Akhoon, Ishfaq Jabbar, Irfan Shah, Peer Afaq, Tanvir Sadiq, Salman Ali Sagar, Imran Nabi Dar, Mushtaq Guroo, Manzoor Ahmad Wani, Syed Farooq Shah, Sheikh Rafi, Sabiya Qadri, Younus Gul, Ahsan Pardesi, were also present on the occasion.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) also paid floral tributes to Martyrs of 1931 at Martyr’s graveyard at Khawaja Bazar, Srinagar on Saturday.
The Party also lashed out at District Administration over “mishandling and mismanagement of this unique occasion”.
A delegation of Senior Party Leaders, PCC Office bearers, Districts Presidents, Executive Members, Block Presidents etc of Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) led by Former PCC President Peerzada Mohd Sayeed visited Khawaja Bazar Srinagar and paid floral tributes to Martyrs of 1931.
“Martyrs fought the battle of justice and equality and laid down their lives for the prestige and honour of the people, their sacrifices will continue to lead the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh at the path of unity and brotherhood. The people JK will continue to get inspired by their sacrifices Martyrs,” the JKPCC said.
The party said the “best way to pay respects to Martyrs of 1931 was to rise to the occasion to strengthen the bonds of harmony and unity in the state to ensure that the divisive forces were not able to divide the people of State on region or religion basis”.
“Let us all come together to build a new JK and defeat the designs of forces inimical to diversity, age old tradition of unity and harmony in the State,” PCC added.
On this occasion the JKPCC lashed out at District Administration for “mismanagement of the occasion”.
While the Srinagar district administration had conveyed the time slot to Congress Party from 9.00 PM to 9.30 PM at Martyr’s graveyard, “the time from 8.30 AM to 9.00 AM was conveyed to party HQ by the DC’s office verbally,” it said.
“But on reaching martyr’s graveyard, the police officials informed the Congress delegation that they had been allotted time from 9.00 AM to 9.30 PM, as result, JKPCC witnessed chaos on this occasion, which is not only serious but highly condemnable on the part of District Administration,” the JKPCC added.
The part asked the administration to avoid mismanagement of official functions in future and demanded enquiry into the matter to fix the responsibility in order to ensure that there was no confusion on such particular occasions in future.
Those who were part of the delegation included Senior Leader Bashir Ahmad Magrey, Farooq Andrabi, Surinder Singh Channi, Shameema Iqbal Abdul Gani Khan, Mohd Sultan, Haji Farooq Mir, Irfan Naqib, Imtiyaz Parray, Sahil Farooq, Gulam Mohd Mir, Imtiyaz Khan, Mohd Aslam Dar, Mushtaq Khanday, Mushtaq Bazaz, Amir Rasool, Yasir pandit, Kadfeen Chowdhary, Hilal Ahmad Wani, Gulsher Khan, Waseem Shalla, Basharat Bin Qadir, Ruvais Mir, Muzaffar Shah and others.
A high level delegation of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by its vice president Abdul Rahman Veeri also visited martyrs graveyard in old city to pay homage to July 13 martyrs.
According to the party spokesman, Veeri paid glowing tributes to the 22 martyrs who laid down their precious lives on July 13, 1931 against the “autocratic and despotic Dogra rule”.
He termed the martyrs as the torchbearers who have been guiding Kashmir’s generations for decades to strengthen the institutions of democracy and fair play and prioritize justice over anarchy.
Other PDP leaders who were present on the occasion include Mohammad Khursheed Alam, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Asea Naqash, Muntazir Mohi-u-Din, Arif laigroo, Abdul Hamid Kosheen, Roof Ahmad Bhat, Haji Parvaiz, Mohammad Shafi Mir, Dr Ali Mohammad, Ghulam Nabi, Mohammad Shafi Kundangar and several others.
A delegation of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) leaders comprising Vice President Organisation Affairs Feroze Peerzada, Vice President Political Affairs Advocate Syed Iqbal Tahir, Advocate Uzair Ronga (Convener & Political Advisor) and Imdad Gazi district president Srinagar visited martyrs graveyard (Mazar-e-Shuhda) at Naqashband sahab shrine in downtown Srinagar and offered fateha and floral tribute to the martyrs.
While paying their respectful homage to the martyrs of 13th July, 1931, they said that the martyrs laid down their lives against a regime of oppression and tyranny.
They said their martyrdom marked the beginning of a long struggle against injustices and oppression meted out to the people of the state at the hands of autocratic rulers.
“This day is remembered as the beginning of struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for protecting their dignity and honour and upholding the values of democracy, social justice and human rights, “the JKPM leaders remarked.
The party said that the sacrifice of the valiant martyrs continues to be the torch bearer for the people especially youth of the state in their fight for basic rights, freedom of expression and safeguarding the peculiar identity of the state.
They said it was the sincerely of their mission that the sacrifices of the martyrs were being still remembered by the people of the state with the same spirit, respect and zest.
They expressed regrets that the voice of the people of the state was once again under gag.
The JKPM leaders reiterated resolve of the party to fight for safeguarding honour and dignity of the people of the state and restoration of peace and civilian liberties.
KV News
