logo
J&K Lt Governor administration denies parties permission to visit martyrs graveyard on July 13

J&K Lt Governor administration denies parties permission to visit martyrs graveyard on July 13

SRINAGAR: The Lieutenant Governor's administration in Jammu and Kashmir has denied permission to political parties including the ruling National Conference, and opposition PDP and Apni Party from visiting martyrs graveyard in Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar on Sunday to offer tributes to July 13, 1931 martyrs.
'The district administration Srinagar has denied permission to all applicants intending to proceed towards Khawaja Bazar, Nowhatta on July 13 (Sunday),' Srinagar police posted on X, formerly twitter.
Police advised the public to strictly comply with the instructions and refrain from violating the orders issued by district administration.
'Any violation of these orders shall invite strict legal action under relevant provisions of law,' the police warned.
Sources said administration may impose security restrictions in and around the areas surrounding martyrs graveyard at Nowhatta to prevent Kashmiri political leaders from visiting the graveyard and paying homage to July 13, 1931 martyrs.
The ruling National Conference and opposition parties including PDP and Apni Party had sought permission from district administration for visiting the martyrs graveyard.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Time is apt to restore J&K's Statehood
Time is apt to restore J&K's Statehood

The Hindu

time2 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Time is apt to restore J&K's Statehood

When one travels from Srinagar to Uri, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant Governor (LG)'s overhaul of the region's challenging terrain is perceptible. His bureaucrats outline his main accomplishments: first, efficient transportation networks have facilitated better access to services, and tourism; and second, civilian killings and militant recruitment have considerably declined. The locals agree. Industrialists say the elimination of separatist infrastructure has allowed businesses to thrive. A section of the people appear to have moved on from the separatist discourse, but they do not explicitly admit it. They fear this would deflect from Kashmir's political questions, especially the need for a plausible political trajectory which remains elusive as New Delhi delays restoration of J&K's Statehood. Political uncertainty culminating in political premonition serves nobody's interest. It needs to be replaced by an optimistic vision for the future, drawing from compassionate terms of engagement between New Delhi and J&K. Handing over full executive powers to J&K's elected government is the first step. The Supreme Court (SC) in December 2023 recommended the restoration of J&K's Statehood but did not specify a deadline. Now is the apt time. Among many reasons is the urgency to not fritter the democratic participation that Kashmir Valley witnessed in last year's Assembly elections. A population reckoning with bureaucratic rule wanted to empower a regional leader. The people reposed faith in Omar Abdullah's capacity for calibrated navigation, hoping the National Conference (NC) would negotiate a respectable arrangement for J&K, at the least Statehood. New Delhi ought to engage with and empower a Chief Minister elected with a historic mandate. It is advisable to also engage with other regional players, especially former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and emerging young leaders such as Waheed Parra. The mainstream leaders' secular politics is Indian democracy's asset. Trying to scupper them by facilitating political proxies will be preposterous. Mr. Abdullah has shown political sagacity by repairing ties with New Delhi. But over a podcast recently, he lamented that he is unable to get work done as he has little authority over the officials. His presence merely as a custodian of status quo is causing dissatisfaction among the voters. It has also earned him accusations of pusillanimity, including from elements within his party, who are publicly advocating a more confrontationist course, significantly expanding their personal appeal. Mr. Abdullah could also animate his constituency with lofty sound-bytes, but he understands a collision course with New Delhi will not help J&K's case. Sources say Mr. Abdullah is hopeful that Statehood will be restored in August. Acknowledging the people's will even when the Union government has the power to perpetuate the LG's hegemony will generate far more political optimism than economic implements could alone. Only twice in history has Kashmir witnessed relative peace: from 1948 to 1952 when Jawaharlal Nehru empowered Sheikh Abdullah to effect social and economic overhaul; and from 1975 to 1984, following the Indira-Sheikh Accord to when Indira Gandhi toppled Farooq Abdullah's government. Clearly, 'peace' is contingent on harmonious relations between New Delhi and the State government. Recently, a daily in Kashmir reported that restoration of Statehood will be followed by fresh elections, as the previous elections were meant for a Union Territory. This created a furore in Srinagar. It is unlikely that there will be another Assembly election. But the lack of a political roadmap built on consensus is deepening public apprehension. Particularly alarming is the regional divide between Kashmir Valley and Jammu. An example of it was the mob violence in Jammu against a Kashmiri man accused of stealing. Such incidents underline the urgency of setting up a State Human Rights Commission and the SC-recommended Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In the foreseeable future, the BJP will remain the predominant force in Jammu, and the NC in Kashmir. The NC made a noble gesture by anointing its lone Hindu MLA, Surinder Choudhary, from Rajouri as the Deputy Chief Minister. It is the BJP's turn to reciprocate. Infiltration in Poonch and Rajouri is alarming. There is hardly time for procrastination. Anando Bhakto reports on Kashmir and national politics

Omar Abdullah quotes late Arun Jaitley as he alleges ‘house arrest' in Kashmir: ‘Tyranny of unelected'
Omar Abdullah quotes late Arun Jaitley as he alleges ‘house arrest' in Kashmir: ‘Tyranny of unelected'

Hindustan Times

time3 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Omar Abdullah quotes late Arun Jaitley as he alleges ‘house arrest' in Kashmir: ‘Tyranny of unelected'

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah alleged on Sunday that he was "locked up" inside his house in Srinagar soon after he returned from New Delhi. J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said that even if the leaders don't visit the graveyard of the 'fallen' Kashmiris, they won't "forget their sacrifices".(PTI) He further alleged that this 'detention' was the "tyranny of the unelected". Abdullah shared pictures from outside his house, where several Jammu and Kashmir police personnel and police vehicles could be seen. 'Tyranny of unelected' "To borrow from the late Arun Jaitley Sb - Democracy in J&K is a tyranny of the unelected. To put it in terms you will all understand today the unelected nominees of New Delhi locked up the elected representatives of the people of J&K," he wrote in a post on X. "The unelected government locked up the elected government," he added. Earlier in the day, several ministers of the Omar Abdullah-led government and some Opposition leaders as well were allegedly placed under house arrest to prevent them from observing the Kashmir Martyrs' Day. However, there was no official confirmation of the house arrest claims of the leaders. The claims came as the Srinagar district magistrate on Saturday rejected the ruling National Conference's plea seeking permission to pay tribute to the 22 people who were killed by the Dogra army on July 13, 1931. In a public advisory posted on X, the Srinagar Police said, "The District Administration Srinagar has denied permission to all applicants intending to proceed towards Khawaja Bazar, Nowhatta on 13th July 2025 (Sunday)." As leaders made claims about being placed under house arrest to prevent their visits to the Naqshband Sahib Martyrs graveyard near Nowhatta, Abdullah condemned the restrictions and termed it a "blatantly undemocratic move". "In a blatantly undemocratic move homes have been locked from the outside, police & central forces deployed as jailers & major bridges in Srinagar blocked. All to stop people from visiting a historically important grave yard containing the graves of people who laid down their lives to give Kashmiris a voice & to empower them. I will never understand what the Law & Order government is so afraid of," he said. Later, in a separate X post to pay homage to the 22 people, Abdullah likened the July 13, 1931 incident to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He asserted that the leaders may be denied permission to visit their graves today, but they "will never forget their sacrifices". "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 J&K chief minister wrote. Deputy chief minister Surinder Chaudhary, who was in Jammu, also claimed that his official residence in Kashmir was locked by the administration. "This is our condition. Locking a deputy chief minister, ministers and MLAs is a threat to democracy," he said, demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. 'The nation that forgets its martyrs does not last long. Those who laid down their lives in 1931 were unarmed civilians fighting for their rights. They were not driven by religion or fighting against any community,' the deputy chief minister told reporters at the National Conference headquarters. Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (JKPDP/PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti had also posted on X that leaders of her party, who were on their way to the 'martyrs' grave, had been 'detained in police stations', while others were 'locked' in their homes. "The day you accept our heroes as your own just as Kashmiris have embraced yours, from Mahatma Gandhi to Bhagat Singh that day, as Prime Minister Modi once said, the 'dil ki doori' (distance of hearts) will truly end," she said in a post on X. Mufti further wrote, "When you lay siege to the Martyrs' Graveyard, lock people in their homes to prevent them from visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada, it speaks volumes. July 13th commemorates our martyrs those who rose against tyranny, much like countless others across the country. They will always be our heroes. ALSO READ | J&K: Hurriyat chairman Mirwair Umar Farooq alleges house arrest, says 'not allowed to offer prayers' Continuing with its regressive policies many of our party leaders like Khurshid Allam , Zohaib Mir , Hamid Kohsheen, Arif Liagroo, Sara Nayeema, Tabassum , Basharat Naseem and others who managed to sneak out of their homes have been detained in police stations . They were on their way to Mazar e shuda." The PDP chief said it seemed like things are getting back into "the oppressive times that our 13 July Martyrs fought against". Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone also claimed that he had been stopped from leaving his residence. "Not allowed to move out of home. Detained. I don't know why the union government is so keen to redefine what is sacred for the people of Kashmir. The sacrifices rendered on July 13 are sacred for all of us," he posted on X. Lone said that stopping people from going to the "marytrs graveyard" only elevates their sacrifices to a "new high". He added, 'Histories that are etched in blood don't vanish.' What happened on July 13, 1931? Thousands of Kashmiris were protesting outside the central jail in Srinagar to support Abdul Qadar. He used to call on Kashmiris against the Dogra ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh. Qadar was charged with sedition. However, the massive protests forced the Dogra ruler's forces to open fire, resulting in the deaths of 22 people. In Jammu and Kashmir, July 13 used to be a public holiday before the reorganisation of the erstwhile state into two Union territories in August 2019. However, the administration dropped the day from the gazetted holidays list in 2020. Top political leaders used to visit the "martyrs' graveyard" to pay tributes to the Kashmiris who fell to the bullets of the Dogra army while protesting against the rule of the Maharaja.

"Unelected govt locked up elected govt": J-K CM on Martyrs Day amid heavy police presence at Gupkar Road
"Unelected govt locked up elected govt": J-K CM on Martyrs Day amid heavy police presence at Gupkar Road

India Gazette

time3 hours ago

  • India Gazette

"Unelected govt locked up elected govt": J-K CM on Martyrs Day amid heavy police presence at Gupkar Road

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 13 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledged Martyrs Day on Sunday, amid heavy police deployment outside 40 Gupkar Road, Srinagar, the official residence of the J&K CM. The Chief Minister on X shared pictures of police outside his residence, with armoured vehicles parked and movement restricted, as the regional parties, including the National Conference (NC), were denied permission to visit the martyrs' graveyard in Srinagar. 'To borrow from the late Arun Jaitley Sb - Democracy in J&K is a tyranny of the unelected. To put it in terms you will all understand today the unelected nominees of New Delhi locked up the elected representatives of the people of J-K,' CM Abdullah wrote in a post on X. 'The unelected government locked up the elected government,' his post added. The J-K CM has also compared Kashmir's Martyrs Day to Punjab's Jallianwalah Bagh massacre, saying, '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.' Earlier on Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) chief spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq has also alleged that several party leaders had been confined to their homes to stop them from paying tribute to the martyrs. 'Since last night, I like many of my colleagues, including the party leadership at Gupkar, the Advisor to the Chief Minister, and a majority of sitting MLAs have been locked inside my home. This is not just unfortunate; it is a deliberate attempt to suppress remembrance and deny us the right to honour the martyrs of July 13. Such actions are not only unnecessary they are unjustified, deeply insensitive, and reveal a troubling disregard for history,' Sadiq posted on X. Amid the controversy of not being allowed to visit the martyrs graveyard, People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said that the 'dil ki doori (distance of hearts)' between Kashmir and the rest of India would end when the Centre accepts Kashmir's heroes as its own, just as Kashmiris have embraced national figures. 'The day you accept our heroes as your own just as Kashmiris have embraced yours, from Mahatma Gandhi to Bhagat Sing, that day, as Prime Minister Modi once said, the 'dil ki doori' (distance of hearts) will truly end,' the PDP chief wrote on X. 'When you lay siege to the Martyrs' Graveyard, lock people in their homes to prevent them from visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada, it speaks volumes. July 13th commemorates our martyrs, those who rose against tyranny, much like countless others across the country. They will always be our heroes,' she added. Martyrs' Day in Kashmir was earlier an official holiday in the state; it was delisted after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. (ANI)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store