J&K CM Omar Abdullah scales graveyard gates to offer tributes to martyrs
Omar Abdullah
, along with his father and other party colleagues, on Monday made a dramatic entry into Martyrs' Graveyard in downtown Srinagar to commemorate the killing of 22 Kashmiris by the
Dogra forces
on July 13 in 1931.
Abdullah climbed the railing to enter the graveyard and was even stopped by the police inside the shrine complex. However, he managed to reach the graveyard and showered flowers to honour those killed in 1931. His Cabinet colleague Sakina Ittoo arrived on a two-wheeler.
The administration had placed most of the political leaders under house arrest on July 13 and disallowed any gathering at the graveyard. They had also placed restrictions on all major roads leading to the graveyard.
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Referring to LG Manoj Sinha's administration, Abdullah said those people who claim that their responsibility is only law and order didn't let them step out on Sunday.
"I informed the control room that I wanted to visit the graveyard (on Sunday) and within minutes, a security bunker was placed right outside my residence gate. It remained there till midnight," said Abdullah, who didn't inform the control room on Monday and decided to visit the graveyard quietly.
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"Even today, they shamelessly tried to stop us. A CRPF vehicle was parked in the middle of Nowhatta Chowk to block our movement. They even attempted to attack us," he alleged.
The CM asked which law allows them to stop elected representatives from paying tribute to martyrs? "Is this a democracy or dictatorship? They say India is a free country, but they treat us like slaves," said Abdullah. He also shared a video clip of a cop trying to stop him inside the complex.
"We are not anyone's slaves. We are answerable to the people, not to uniformed officers who misuse power and violate the law," he said. Abdullah said the LG-led administration thought the elected representatives would come here only on July 13.
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