Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 22: Intensifying their movement against observance of July 13 as Martyrs’ Day by the State Government, a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits today presented a memorandum to Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh demanding that wrong done in the past be corrected by setting the record straight.
The KP delegation which presented the memorandum to Dr Singh here today included, president Panun Kashmir Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, D N Kissu chairman All Displaced KP United Front, Prof G L Koul, Advisor ADKUF and Virender Raina national spokesperson Joint Forum KP organizations.
Terming the matter of significant political and historical importance that has been stirring the conscience of a large segment of population in the State, the memorandum said that the State of J&K has been observing 13th July as the ‘Martyrs day’ over the last number of years. This day has also been declared as a State holiday despite stiff opposition from various quarters and particularly the nationalist minded people of the State. This is a travesty of justice with those people who were subjected to untold miseries and brutalities on this particular day in 1931 in the Kashmir Valley.
The observance of the 13th July as the so-called Martyrs’ Day by the political structures of the State is tantamount to rubbing salt to the festering wounds of the minority Hindu community of Kashmir. On this day, the Hindu community was subjected to loot, arson, murder and mayhem on a large scale in the Valley. The observance as such adds insult to injury that on a day, when the Kashmiri Hindus were subjected to mass persecution and loot, has been designated as the official martyrs’ day by the political class of the Valley.
The memorandum further said that the day was given legitimacy after NC came to power in 1975 while during Congress rule prior to 1975 the day was not officially observed as Martyrs’ Day the memorandum added.
In accordance with the chalked out plan in 1931, the mobs under the supervision and leadership of communal forces in Kashmir raised slogans against the then Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, looted properties of minorities in Kashmir and houses at various places in Valley were set ablaze besides many people were done to death mercilessly.
It said this day is being observed by the Kashmiri Pandit community as the Black Day since 1932 in commemoration of the persecution that was inflicted upon the society on that day in the Valley of Kashmir.
The memorandum demanded that as a first step the observance of 13th July as the ‘martyrs day’ in the State be stopped forthwith, and instead October 26, be declared as the J&K State Day, as it was on this day that the Instrument of Accession was signed by the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir paving way for accession of J&K into the Union of India.
Dr Jitendra Singh assured the delegation that he will handover the memorandum to concerned quarters for consideration.
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