Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and some of his Cabinet colleagues Sunday visited Naqshband Sahab Shrine to pay tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931.On reaching the 'Mazar-e-Shohada', NC Working President Omar Abdullah paid obeisance at the Naqashband Sahab (RA) Shrine and prayed for peace and prosperity in the State. The NC Working President offered Fateha at the shrine before proceeding to the annexure that hosts the graves of the martyrs who laid down their lives fighting against autocracy and slavery in 1931. Omar Abdullah also laid a floral wreath on the graves of the martyrs as a 21-gun salute and guard of honour was presented in their memory.Paying rich tributes to martyrs, Omar Abdullah said their sacrifice to free the society from autocracy and lay edifice for democracy and human dignity is one of the richest chapters of the history of Jammu and Kashmir. “Best way to pay homage to the martyrs is to help create equitable and palatable environment for everyone to grow and develop in a democratic atmosphere,” he added.
Chief Minister was accompanied by Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Mubarak Gul, Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar and Minister for CAPD, Ch. Mohammad Ramzan and Minister for Law and Justice, Mir Saifullah, Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Nasir Aslam Wani, Peerzada Ahmed Shah, Mohammad Sayed Akhoon, Ali Mohammad Dar and Youth President Salman Ali Sagar along with scores of NC workers and supporters.The minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, A.R. Rather has also paid rich tributes to the martyrs of July, 13 1931, saying that the valiant heroes by offering sacrifice of their lives laid the edifice of a pluralistic, secular and welfare state. “Martyrdom was a fight and a strong resistance against suppression, autocracy and dictatorship,” he said and added that it is our collective responsibility to take the mission of martyrs to its logical end by rising above political considerations and inpidual ideologies to ensure welfare of the common masses. “Better way to pay homage to the martyrs is to nourish and uphold the principles of humanity, equality and co-existence, which are the hallmark of our centuries old rich traditions and ethos,” he said.
National Conference observed the 83rd Martyrs' Day across the State today and organized functions at various places to pay rich tributes to the Martyrs of 13th July. National Conference Working President and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Martyrs' Graveyard at Naqshband Sahib (RA) Shrine at Khwaja Bazaar, Srinagar on the 83rd Martyrs' Day and paid rich tributes to the valiant heroes of the nation who laid down their lives for the dignity and liberty of their people, the party spokesman in a statement issued to GNS said.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Member of Parliament, Tariq Hameed Karra and other party leaders also visited the Shrine. On the occasion, Karra flayed the government for imposing restrictions on the movement of people. “Karra said the restrictions, hartal and imprisonment of separatist leaders along with rest of the city is a grim reminder of the treachery that National Conference practiced against the people of Kashmir, who had reposed their faith blindly in its leadership”.
Karra while addressing a gathering at the ‘Mazar-e-Shohda’ (Martyrs graveyard) here this morning said the present occupant of the National Conference throne has outdone his ancestors in “double-speak” and compromises on whatever was left of the state’s interests.
“While Omar Abdullah is accusing the PDP of every wrong that his own party has done to the state his latest allegation of the opposition being a collection of turncoats or it being silent on the recent sanctioning of an IIT for Jammu”, Karra said: “It seems in his frustration the Chief Minister tries to undo the history of his ancestors and forgets even his own tweets.” He said the Chief Minister has only one month back opposed establishment of IITs and IIMs in every state as a 'terrible idea'.Karra criticized the government for imposing restrictions on the martyrs’ day. “Even on a solemn occasion the government does not know of anything other than curfew,” he said.Quoting the Chief Minister’s tweet on June 9th, 2014: “IITs and IIMs in every state is a terrible idea and will dilute these institutions’’, Karra said Omar Abdullah must explain his objections to the proposal in the light of announcements of an IIT for Jammu, and not try to mislead the people of Kashmir again who are aware of the PDP’s performance in three years as against the National Conference’s dominance of political scene of Kashmir for more than eight decades. He said if head of the state government himself opposes the very idea of setting up new institutions how does he expect the opposition to get him out of the mess of his own making. "But it is a sign of changing times if Omar expects us to bring an IIT to Kashmir and we assure that we won't disappoint our people" he added.
Karra, who represents Central Kashmir in the parliament, said the PDP members of parliament will never compromise on the interests of the people who have elected them. He said the overwhelming mandate that we have received will be leveraged for the solution of Kashmir issue and issues of Jammu and Kashmir.He said the people don’t have so short a memory as to forget how PDP in its brief tenure established three new universities in the state apart from three additional campuses of existing universities. Contrary to that the Central University sanctioned five years back in Kashmir, continues to function at a skeletal level from rented buildings from different parts of the city.He, however, said the PDP will fight for the Kashmir’s right to have an IIM and IIT in this region, as well, “even though Omar Abdullah bartered away the IIM sanctioned for Kashmir last time to satisfy his personal ego".
Karra said the present government has replicated the 1931 atrocities on a larger scale as in 2010 when 126 innocent people were gunned down for demanding their constitutional rights. He said the atrocities and excesses continue to be perpetuated by Omar Abdullah government and the youth and city dwellers are the chief victims of his dictatorial methods. He condemned the attacks last night by NC goons on PDP workers who were making preparation for the martyr's day program and warned the ruling party that the days of its browbeating and bullying were over.Meanwhile, in Handwara of Kupwara district PDP workers led by Sofi Gh Mohiudin senior party leader and former minister paid tributes to the martyrs of July 1931 at their Mazar. Apart from Srinagar and some other places many freedom fighters were martyred Handwara also in July 1931.
On the occasion senior party leaders, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, candidate for Amira Kadal constituency; Naeem Akhtar, Chief Spokesperson; Asiya Naqash, candidate from Hazratbal constituency; Mohammad Khursheed Aalam, candidate from Khanyar constituency; Muntazir Mohiudin, candidate from Budgam constituecy and party leaders, Abdul Hameed Kohsheen, Mian Shuja Sarwar, Nisar Ahmad Mandoo, Haji Parvaiz, Dr Ali Mohammad, Showkat Hafiz, Noor Mohammad, Zone president Batamaloo; Mohammad Shafi, Zone president Sonwar; Mudassir Khan, Sardar Nani Singh, Rouf Punjabi, Advocate Azhar-ul-Amin and others were also present and paid homage to the martyrs. Wreaths were placed on the Mazar and fathea offered on the occasion.Paying glowing tributes to the martyrs, MLA Langate Er. Rasheed has said that the mission of martyrs is yet to be completed. He said the politicians have been exploiting the sacrifices made by these martyrs. "Though we have come here to offer fatiha and pay tributes to these great souls but the fact remains that the real tribute to these national heroes is possible only by accomplishment of their mission," Er. Rasheed said.
Rashid has assailed the authorities for not allowing common masses and resistance leadership to visit Martyrs Graveyard at Naqshban Sahib Khanyar to pay tributes to 1931 martyrs and has observed that by and large mainstream leadership of Jammu & Kashmir has failed to serve the cause of July 13,1931 Martyrs. Despite heavy restrictions a glorious tribute ceremony was organized by AIP at martyr’s graveyard today at Khanyar area.If Omar Abdullah, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Saifudin Soz and likes of them pay tributes to 1931 martyrs than they will have to give clear message to Delhi that Kashmir Dispute should be settled in accordance within principles of Justice and its historical perspective and tell on face that Kashmir is not integral part of India, Rashid said.
“If the Kashmir dispute is resolved in just manner it will increase India’s Prestige and then nobody in a secret manner will have to pay tributes to martyrs under restrictions and tight security cover”, Rashid said, adding that “If mainstream leadership would have been sincere towards 1931 Martyrs than from Dr. Qasim Faktoo to Tarik Dar they would have not left thousands of Kashmiri political prisoners in jails under painful condition and then mainstream leadership would not have also unleashed reign of terror n people of Kashmir. Architects of AFSPA, PSA, Self –Rule and Autonomy need to bear in mind that under the lust of power visiting martyrs graveyard will in no way be giving solace to martyrs.”
Rashid said that naming hospitals and prestigious institutes in the name of Maharaja against tyrannies of whom July 1931 martyrs gave their life exposes the hypocrisy of mainstream leadership. Engineer Rashid reaffirmed that Kashmiri Pandits will have to win hearts of bruised Kashmiri muslim brothers so as to come back to Kashmir valley in a dignified manner rather than relying on petty concessions.
“We need to give open message to man-eater rulers of Delhi that our Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru are not terrorists but national heroes like Sukhdev and Raj Guru. The manner in which the religious courts of Muslims are being nullified and the silence of Modi Government over atrocities f Palestine expose the hallow nature of Indian Secularism”, Rashid said in a statement issued to GNS.
Engineer Rashid appealed to all political parties of Kashmir shun the rigidness and evolve a common platform to devise a road map for effective solution of Kashmir DisputePaying rich tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931, the Awami Mutahida Mahaz (AMM) has said this historic day calls for an introspection among all shades of political opinion in order to safeguard the democratic and secular values of the state for which the martyrs laid their lives.AMM leaders Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Hakim Mohammad Yasin, Abdul Rashid Kabuli and Khalid Tufail, who paid visit to the martyrs’ graveyard to pay obeisance observed that these great sons of soil sacrificed themselves for the cause of dignity of life and to uphold the democratic spirit thus paving a way for transformation of society and empowerment of our people.“They said that 1931 martyrs had offered sacrifices essentially to ensure that the people of the state are empowered through institutions of governance. However, the successive regimes in the state through a systematic move have undermined the integrity of these institutions which are vital for the growth of any democratic system”, Targami said in a statement issued to GNS.
While strongly condemning the restrictions imposed and the use of force against the locals, the AMM leaders said that such restrictions were unwarranted at a time when the people prefer to visit mosques rather than to form any unwarranted assemblies, Targami said.
Targami while assuring the locals, who met them at Mazar-e-Shuhda, the AMM leaders said that they will raise the hardships the locals have faced since yesterday with the authorities concerned.The AMM leaders demanded that restrictions be lifted in the areas falling in vicinity of Mazar-e-Shuhda forthwith.President Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former Minister, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen also visited the martyrs graveyard and paid homage to the martyrs of July 13, 1931.Recalling supreme sacrifices offered by the martyrs against autocracy and suppression, Yaseen said their martyrdom laid the foundation of a democratic and secular state. “Now it is our primary duty to work for the fulfillment of the cherished mission of the martyrs,” he said. (GNS)