PDP leader visits graveyard in old city to pay tributes to those killed in 1931

SRINAGAR — On eve of “Martyrs’ Day”, Peoples Democratic Party leader Iltija Mufti today visited the graveyard in old city to pay tributes to 22 people who were killed outside Srinagar jail during protests against Maharaja Hari Singh, on July 13, 1931.

In a post on social media, Iltija, who is the daughter of PDP supremo and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, said she managed to visit the martyrs’ graveyard ahead of expected movement restrictions on July 13.

“Knowing that tomorrow we’d be prevented from moving out, managed to pay tributes to our martyrs who laid down their lives on 13th July 1931 for democracy,” she said.

She lamented what she called a deliberate attempt to erase the memory of the day from public consciousness.

“Their memory is being wilfully erased yet their voices echo in every Kashmiri’s heart that refuses to bow & dares to hope,” Iltija said.

July 13 was observed as Martyrs’ Day to commemorate the sacrifice of 22 people who led an uprising against Maharaja Hari Singh in 1931, the then Dogra monarch of J&K.

Before Article 370 abrogation in 2019, top J&K Government officials, including the then Governor and Chief Minister, would join the political parties in paying tributes to those killed in 1931.

After 2019, J&K Government headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, removed the ‘Martyrs Day’ from the official holiday calendar of the government and also disallowed any function at the Martyrs’ graveyard.

Over the past few days, the political temperatures have been rising over “Martyrs’ Day”.

While several mainstream political leaders have announced their plans to visit the martyrs’ graveyard at Naqshband sahib in old Srinagar, the ruling National Conference has written to Srinagar administration and asked for permission to hold a function on July 13 at the graveyard.

Kashmir’s chief cleric and moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has announced his plans to visit the Srinagar graveyard, today said he continued to be under house arrest.

Mirwaiz said that since the time of Moulvi Muhammad Farooq, it had been the tradition to honour these martyrs by taking out a peaceful procession to the Martyrs’ Graveyard under his leadership, where people would pay homage to them and renew their commitment to carry forward the ideals for which they laid down their lives.

“However, in recent years, due to the restrictions imposed by the ruling authorities, such commemorative gatherings have not been possible, which is very sad and extremely regrettable,” he said in a statement. “… If the authorities lift restrictions on Mirwaiz tomorrow, July 13, congregational Zuhr prayers will be held at Jama Masjid Srinagar, after which a visit will be made to the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqshband Sahib to pay tributes and offer prayers for the departed souls.”

Meanwhile, Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajjad Lone today called for the restoration of July 13 as an official public holiday, asserting that the day holds a sacred place in the collective memory of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The memory of the July 13 martyrs is both cherished and sacred. Denying a day of remembrance will neither erase their memory nor diminish the sacrifices they made,” Lone stated.