Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his father, former CM Dr Farooq Abdullah, along with other National Conference (NC) leaders, created dramatic scenes in Srinagar on Monday when they forcefully entered the Martyrs' graveyard to pay tribute to those killed on July 13, 1931.
CM Omar Abdullah shared a video on social media showing him climbing a gate and grappling with security forces who tried to stop him. He said, “I was not doing anything illegal. The authorities must explain under what law they tried to stop us from offering prayers.”
The leaders went to the graveyard to remember those who died during protests against the Dogra Maharaja’s rule in 1931. Authorities had imposed restrictions, disallowing all applications to visit the graveyard.
Despite the restrictions, CM Omar, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary, advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, and some ministers reached the site. Education Minister Sakina Itoo even rode as a pillion passenger on a scooter after her vehicle was stopped.
At the site, Omar Abdullah climbed over a barricade and entered while security forces tried to stop him. He later wrote that the government had tried to block his way and forced him to walk part of the route.
Before Article 370 was removed in August 2019, July 13 was a public holiday in J&K. After 2019, this day and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s birthday on December 5 were removed from the official holiday list. The NC has demanded that both holidays be restored.
Omar Abdullah said they would not be stopped from paying respect to the martyrs and promised to continue fighting for people’s rights.