SRINAGAR: Many political leaders here claimed they were placed under “house arrest” on Martyrs’ Day on Sunday, allegedly to prevent them from visiting the historic Martyrs’ Graveyard and paying homage to the 22 civilians killed on July 13, 1931, while protesting against the Dogra regime. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the move, calling it “blatantly undemocratic.”
The Srinagar administration had on Saturday denied permission to political parties to visit the graveyard located in the old city. While no official confirmation was provided by the police or district administration regarding the detentions, Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel were seen stationed near the residences of several political leaders, including Ministers. Many leaders shared photos of locked gates and police deployment on social media.
In a post on X, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated, “In a blatantly undemocratic move, homes have been locked from the outside, police and central forces deployed as jailers and major bridges in Srinagar blocked. All to stop people from visiting a historically important graveyard containing the graves of people who laid down their lives to give Kashmiris a voice and to empower them. I will never understand what the ‘Law and Order’ government is so afraid of.”
He also said: “The 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 restrictions triggered a political slugfest on social media, with leaders trading sharp remarks over each other’s conduct and political stand. PDP MLA Waheed Para criticised Omar’s absence from the Valley, posting: “This isn’t a day for performative debates but one of historic significance. Since abrogation (of Article 370), even with an absolute mandate, Omar Abdullah has remained constrained by a hybrid system. If restoring Article 370, statehood, or control over Waqf was beyond your scope, the least you could have done was honour the legacy by standing at the graveyard. J&K CM’s absence from Kashmir today is nothing short of disowning July 13. The Chief Minister’s silence speaks louder than any promise. This day demanded presence, not distance. For the first time, an elected Chief Minister has chosen to stay away from both Kashmir and the graveyard on a day that calls for remembrance and perseverance”.