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The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Martyrs' Day in Kashmir: A look at its history and the BJP's indifference
Story so far: Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defied his Lieutenant-Governor's (L-G) stance on 'Martyrs' Day', on July 13, 2025, to pay tribute to the 22 civilians killed by Dogra rulers in 1931. Visuals shared by Mr. Omar Abdullah show him grappling with the authorities as he visited the Naqsbandh Sahib shrine at Khawaja Bazar to offer fatiha (prayer) at the martyrs' graves. The L-G had barred the government and regional parties from paying tributes at the site. 'The unelected government tried to block my way forcing me to walk from Nawhatta chowk. They blocked the gate to Naqsbandh Sahib shrine forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me but I was not going to be stopped today,' posted Mr. Abdullah. Highlighting the July 13 massacre as J&K's 'Jallianwala Bagh', Mr. Omar Abdullah said, 'True heroes who fought against British rule in all its forms are today projected as villains only because they were Muslims.' This is the physical grappling I was subjected to but I am made of sterner stuff & was not to be stopped. I was doing nothing unlawful or illegal. In fact these "protectors of the law" need to explain under what law they were trying to stop us from offering Fatiha — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 14, 2025 While Mr. Abdullah was able to visit the shrine, no other leader was able to do so. NC leaders such as Showkat Mir, Imran Nabi Dar, Shafqat Watali, Nasir Aslam Wani and Tanvir Sadiq were either detained or put under house arrest. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Apni Party (JKAP) president Altaf Bukhari and and J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) president Sajad Lone, were also detained in their homes or offices. BJP has refused to mark the event as a 'martyrdom', maintaining that the slain civilians were 'rioters' and not national heroes. Here's a look at why J&K observes this day and its changed nature since 2019 What happened on July 13, 1931? In 1931, Kashmir was in turmoil due to a series of incidents that had led to revolt by the Muslims citizens against the ruling Dogra administration. In Jammu's Udhampur — a Hindu-majority area, a landholder had converted to Islam, resulting in him losing his property rights. A Hindu police officer had interrupted a sermon led by Mufti Muhammad Ishaque, accusing the seer of transgressing the law. In retaliation, the crowds condemned the interference into religious matters and a public protest was held. While a case was filed against the police officer for interfering in religious matters, a local magistrate dismissed the case. Two other incidents, which had created resentment among the Muslims were — a Muslim jail attendant being reprimanded by his Hindu superior and a pages of the Holy Quran being found in a public latrine. The final incident which led to the clash between the citizens and the Dogra police was the arrest of one Abdul Qadeer — a Kashmiri employee serving Major Butt of the British Army. In a public meeting, Qadeer had allegedly urged Muslims to retaliate to the Dogra king's oppression by attacking the palace. Accusing Qadeer of sedition, the Dogra police arrested him and placed him in Srinagar's Central Jail. On July 13, 1931, when trial started in Srinagar, a huge crowd had assembled outside the jail, raising slogans to seeking Qadeer's freedom. As the protestors urged the judge to imprison them instead, police began to hit them with batons. In retaliation, the crowds pelted the Dogra police with stones and sticks. On the Governor's orders, police opened fire at the protestors killing 17 Muslims on the spot, while five succumbed to injuries later. The slain civilians were buried in compound of Kanqah-i-Maula, three days later. The spot has since then been renamed as Mazar-i-Shuhada. Observing Martyrs' day The incident gave impetus to calls for Jammu-Kashmir's freedom from Maharaja Hari Singh's rule. The Reading Room party, founded by Sheikh Abdullah, established the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference with the sole aim to protect Muslim rights. His demands for self-rule of the Kashmiri people too gained traction and a Legislature was set up by the Maharaja in 1934. In 1947, after Maharaja Hari Singh fled to Jammu after acceding Kashmir to India, Sheikh Abdullah was appointed as J&K's first Prime Minister. He declared July 13 as 'J&K Martyr's day' and has been observed by consequent governments. Pakistan also observes the same day to honour Kashmiri civilian martyrs. Qadeer is believed to be born in Swat, which falls currently in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Through the years, Martyrs' day has seen 'house arrest' of Opposition leaders whenever the State has been put under President's rule. In 1986, then CM Farooq Abdullah threatened to launch a fresh struggle if the Governor's rule was not ended by September 7 that year. While most other Opposition leaders like G. M. Shah, Ghulam Nabi Kochak, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Abdul Gani Lone were placed under 'house arrest', Dr. Farooq Abdullah and his ally, Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq, were allowed to pay tributes to the martyrs. BJP's indifference BJP has never officially recognised or observed 'Martyr's day', maintaining, 'People killed then are those who broke the law and the State forces did what was required under the law. We neither believe in martyr's day, nor do we approve it'. On September 13, 1989, Kashmiri Pandit leader and BJP member Tika Lal Taploo was slain by Kashmiri militants. BJP and Kashmiri Pandits across India began observing September 13 as 'Martyr's Day', holding rallies and shraads (death anniversary) to honour Taploo. Through the years, BJP has used this event to voice the concerns of the Hindu minority in Kashmir and the targetted attacks on the community by militants. In 2015, when BJP allied with J&K People's Democratic Party to form a coalition government, the saffron party 'boycotted' the July 13 Martyrs' Day event — a first for a ruling J&K party. 'The 1931 martyrs have no relevance for our party. If Kashmir-based political parties do not attend the functions we hold in memory of our leaders like Syama Prasad Mookerjee, why should we attend their Martyrs' Day,' said BJP's Kashmir spokesperson Khalid Jehangir. Since then, it has continuously boycotted the event. Before Article 370 was abrogated in August 2019, then Governor Satya Pal Malik skipped the official state event, along with his Chief Secretary and four non-local advisors. Post-abrogation, the L-G has delisted 'Martrys' day' as an official holiday and scrapped the event observing it. After the election of the Union territory's first CM, Mr. Omar Abdullah, the ruling National Conference and other J&K parties this year, sought permission for their delegations to be allowed to visit the graveyard and pay tributes. However, the J&K Police denied permission to all regional parties to hold any commemoration functions at the graveyard. 'The District Administration Srinagar has denied permission to all applicants intending to proceed towards Khawaja Bazar, Nowhatta on 13th July 2025 (Sunday). The General Public is hereby advised to strictly comply with these instructions. Any violation of these orders shall invite strict legal action under relevant provisions of law,' warned the police. As politicians were put under house arrest, Mr. Omar Abdullah posted, 'Today the unelected nominees of New Delhi locked up the elected representatives of the people of J&K. 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,' echoing hurt sentiments of Kashmiri Muslims.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Omar scales wall to pay tribute at martyrs' graves
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and his National Conference colleagues on Monday dodged police curbs, sprinted on foot and scaled a wall to pay tributes to 21 Kashmiris killed by the Dogra army in 1931, a day after several political leaders were allegedly not allowed to visit the Mazar-e-Shohada (martyrs' graveyard) in Old City area of Srinagar. Omar scales wall to pay tribute at martyrs' graves 'Paid my respects & offered Fatiha (prayers) at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931. The unelected government tried to block my way forcing me to walk from Nawhatta chowk. They blocked the gate to Naqshband Sahib shrine forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me but I was not going to be stopped today,' Omar posted on X. Health and education minister Sakina Ittoo also reached the graveyard on a scooty, allegedly without any official protocol. NC president Farooq Abdullah also offered prayers at the cemetery. Omar also criticised lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and the police for allegedly trying to stop him and his entourage from entering the martyrs' graveyard. 'It is sad that on the instructions of the people who claim that their responsibility is the security and law and order, we were not allowed to offer Fatiha here. We were kept in house arrest (on Sunday)...' Omar told reporters after paying tributes at the graveyard. 'Barriers were raised, but so was our resolve. Today, we stood firm at the Mazar-e-Shohada, offering Fatiha, laying flowers, and honouring the valour of 1931,' he said, adding '...Attempts were made to stop us. We aren't slaves of anybody but slave of our own people.' Videos of the CM and his party colleagues scaling the wall of the cemetery were shared widely on social media. Omar said: '...I was doing nothing unlawful or illegal. In fact these 'protectors of the law' need to explain under what law they were trying to stop us from offering Fatiha.' A political row erupted after the incident. While BJP accused the CM and the NC of reviving the 'politics of graves to remain politically relevant', West Bengal chief minister termed the alleged action by the security forces to prevent Omar and others from visiting the grave 'shocking' and shameful'. J&K BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur said, 'Omar Abdullah is shamelessly indulging in the politics of graves just to remain politically relevant. By glorifying the events of 1931, he is whitewashing a day soaked in the blood of innocent Kashmiri Pandits. This is not a tribute, it's a calculated provocation.' Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said Omar should shift his focus on upholding the dignity and fundamental rights of the people now that he has 'tasted the bitter medicine of authoritarian high-handedness'. 'Power teaches little, Powerlessness teaches more! Today the CM sahab @omarabdullah tasted the bitter medicine of authoritarian high handedness and subsequent helplessness that common Kashmiri's face everyday in different forms, as all agency and space is denied to them,' the Mirwaiz said in a post on X. 'Hoping this experience shifts his focus to what is the first priority of every people- upholding their dignity, and their fundamental rights, and work sincerely towards its restoration,' Mirwaiz added. July 13 was observed as Martyrs' Day by mainstream politicians and separatists in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in memory of the 21 Kashmiris who were killed by the army of Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh during an uprising in 1931 when the region was a princely state.
India Gazette
14-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"What is wrong in visiting graveyard of martyrs?" Mamata Banerjee after J-K CM Abdullah claims restricted from Naqshband Sahib
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 14 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday termed as 'unacceptable' 'shocking' and 'shameful' the alleged action by security forces to prevent Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from visiting the Naqshband Sahib in Srinagar. 'What is wrong in visiting the graveyard of martyrs? This is not only unfortunate, it also snatches the democratic right of a citizen. What happened this morning to an elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is unacceptable. Shocking. Shameful,' Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X. On Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir Police sealed the Martyrs' cemetery in Srinagar and confined top political leaders, including Abdullah, inside their residences. barring them from visiting the Martyrs' Graveyard (Mazar-e-Shuhada), to mark the anniversary of the protesters shot dead by Maharaja Hari Singh's Dogra forces on July 13, 1931. Omar Abdullah had been in West Bengal to participate in the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) travel trade show Kolkata 2025 and on Thursday he had attended a conference with Mamata Banerjee in Howrah. Meanwhile the Jammu and Kashmir today said that police attempted to stop him from reciting Fatiha (prayers) in the memory of 22 'martyrs' who were killed for protesting against Maharaja Hari Singh's rule. He said he jumped over the boundary wall of the Mazar-e-Shuhada to offer being placed under 'house arrest' yesterday. 'Paid my respects & offered Fatiha at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931. The unelected government tried to block my way forcing me to walk from Nawhatta chowk. They blocked the gate to Naqshband Sb shrine forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me but I was not going to be stopped today,' Abdullah's post on X read. The graveyard is attached to the shrine of Khwaja Bahawuddin Naqshbandi. Abdullah also expressed anguish over the lack of media coverage in local newspapers on the issue of 'the entire elected government being locked up'. 'Take a look at our local newspapers - both from Jammu and from Srinagar, English & vernacular. You'll be able to distinguish the cowards from the ones with guts. The cowards have completely buried the fact that the entire elected government was locked up yesterday, along with most elected representatives. The newspapers with some guts have put it on the front page. Shame on the sellouts who buried the story, I hope the size of the envelope was worth it,' J-K chief minister said. Abdullah also came down heavily on the 'unelected nominees of New Delhi' for allegedly locking up the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir. The J-K Chief Minister also shared pictures on his X account 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. Martyrs' Day in Kashmir, which was previously observed as an official holiday in the State was delisted after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. (ANI)
India Gazette
14-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Snatches right of a citizen:" Bengal CM slams restrictions on visiting Martyrs' graveyard in J-K
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 14 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the Jammu and Kashmir district administration for imposing restrictions on visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada (Martyrs' graveyard) in Srinagar's Naqshband Sahib. Questioning the administration, she said that such a restriction 'snatches away democratic rights of a citizen.' 'What is wrong in visiting the graveyard of martyrs? This is not only unfortunate, it also snatches the democratic right of a citizen. What happened this morning to an elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is unacceptable. Shocking. Shameful,' she wrote in a post on X. The Bengal CM's remarks come after J&K CM Omar Abdullah jumped over the boundary wall of Mazar-e-Shuhada in Srinagar to offer prayers after allegedly being stopped by the security forces and the police. Abdullah also alleged that the security forces tried to 'physically grapple' him while trying to stop him. The development came a day after the Jammu and Kashmir Police sealed the Martyrs' cemetery and confined top political leaders, including Abdullah, inside their residences. barring them from visiting the Martyrs' Graveyard, to mark the anniversary of the 22 protesters who were shot dead by Dogra king Hari Singh's forces on July 13, 1931. Earlier on Monday, while hitting out at the J&K police for trying to stop him from reciting Fatiha (prayers) in the memory of 22 martyrs, Abdullah asserted, 'We are nobody's slaves.' He added that he must be informed under which law he was stopped from visiting the Mazar-e-Shuhada in Srinagar's Naqshband Sahib. The Jammu and Kashmir CM said that despite attempts to stop him, he was able to recite prayers. The CM claimed that everyone was put under 'house arrest' and bunkers were installed outside his residence after he expressed the will to recite prayers at the Naqshband Sahib graveyard. He said that this is why he visited the Martyrs' graveyard without informing. He also expressed anguish over the lack of media coverage in local newspapers on the issue of 'the entire elected government being locked up.' The graveyard is attached to the shrine of Khwaja Bahawuddin Naqshbandi. Martyrs' Day in Kashmir was earlier observed as an official holiday in the erstwhile state. It was delisted after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. (ANI)
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Business Standard
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Omar Abdullah grappled by J&K cops as he tries to visit martyrs' grave
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and several cabinet ministers on Monday scaled a wall to visit the graves of the July 13 martyrs in Srinagar after being stopped by police. In a video he shared on his X account, he can be seen walking towards the graveyard with security personnel. Upon reaching there, he climbed the wall to enter the graveyard as the gate appeared to be locked. 'Paid my respects & offered Fatiha at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931. The unelected government tried to block my way forcing me to walk from Nawhatta chowk. They blocked the gate to Naqshband Sb shrine forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me but I was not going to be stopped today,' he said in a post on X. In another video, police personnel can be seen trying to restrict him from entering. Sharing a video of the incident, he further wrote, 'This is the physical grappling I was subjected to but I am made of sterner stuff & was not to be stopped. I was doing nothing unlawful or illegal. In fact these 'protectors of the law' need to explain under what law they were trying to stop us from offering Fatiha.' Many prominent leaders of the Union Territory were kept under house arrest on Sunday, prohibiting them from paying their respects on July 13, which is considered Martyrs Day in the UT, PTI reported. Abdullah also alleged that when he expressed his desire to offer prayer at the graveyard on Sunday, bunkers were set up to stop him. 'It is sad that on the instructions of the people who claim that their responsibility is the security and 'law and order, we were not allowed to offer 'fateha' here. We were kept in house arrest (on Sunday). When gates opened, I expressed to the control room my desire to offer fateha. Within minutes, bunkers were put up and they were not removed late into the night,' Abdullah told reporters, as quoted by PTI. What happened on July 13? On July 13, 1931, a group of Kashmiris gathered outside Srinagar Central Jail to protest the trial of Abdul Qadeer, who called on Kashmiris against Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh. However, Singh's forces opened fire at them. In total, 22 people were killed. Since then, July 13 has been observed as Martyrs' Day in Jammu and Kashmir to honour those who lost their lives. It used to be a public holiday before the reorganisation of the erstwhile state into two UTs in August 2019. The administration dropped the day from the list of gazetted holidays in 2020, PTI reported.
