Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 13: While as no official function was held to commemorate Martyrs’ Day, local political parties and their leaders including former chief ministers paid glowing tribute to the martyrs of July 13, 1931.
In a statement issued here, NC president and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah and party vice president Omar Abdullah paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of 1931, calling the day a landmark in the history of J&K. “The brave men who laid their lives on 13th of July, 1931 belonged to a generation of wisdom and vision. They envisioned a society free from bondage, discrimination and oppression” he said.
Omar Abdullah said July 13 marks the ‘collective defiance of the oppressed’. “The day is the watershed moment in the people’s struggle for restoration of their universal human rights. We observe the day to reiterate our commitment to fight evil with kindness, violence with non-violence and peaceful struggle,” he said.
Taking to Twitter, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Mehbooba Mufti also paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of 13th July, 1931. “Those martyrs with their blood wrote a new chapter in the history of J&K which created an urge among the people for freedom & dignity. As we pay homage we also reiterate our resolve to strive for restoration of J&K’s dignity,” the Party tweeted.
Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, while paying tribute to the martyrs of 1931, said, “This day reminds us of the sacrifices of our ancestors who laid their lives while fighting the autocracy. Those who were gunned down by the Dogra soldiers wanted democracy here.” He added, “Apni Party upholds the mission of these martyrs even today in terms of our fight for the restoration of democracy and democratic institutions in J&K.”
In a statement on Martyrs’ Day, spokesperson of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) Mohd Yousuf Tarigami said, “This historic event had shaken the foundations of the then oppressive power structure. This unprecedented incident proved to be a milestone in the long road of the people’s struggle for justice. Thus it marked the beginning of the mass awakening in Kashmir.”
Rich tribute were paid to martyrs of 1931 at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, Jammu. Prominent leaders and workers of National Conference participated in the function. While addressing the gathering, provincial president Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta said that martyrs of 1931 sacrificed their lives for the cause of the democracy and freedom of press and speech.
On Martyrs’ Day, chairman People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and former Minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen said the martyrs had laid their lives for freedom of expression and democracy more so against the oppression and tyranny in the State. He said sacrifice of the valiant martyrs will remain as a golden chapter in the history of J&K.
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