Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 13: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) today paid glowing tribute to the valiant martyrs of July 13, 1931, in a solemn function held at party office in Jammu.
The event was chaired by Rattan Lal Gupta, provincial president Jammu and witnessed the participation of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Ajay Sadhotra, additional general secretary JKNC and former Minister, Babu Rampaul former Minister and Central Zone president and Sheikh Bashir Ahmed provincial secretary Jammu and a large number of party workers who gathered to remember the supreme sacrifices made in the struggle for justice and democracy.
The senior NC leaders strongly condemned the undemocratic move of the LG led administration for forcibly placing the democratically elected Government’s leadership in Kashmir valley under house arrest. They denounced this as a blatant and arbitrary infringement on fundamental rights.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister said that July 13 marks a pivotal moment in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, symbolizing the people’s collective yearning for democracy, social justice, and equality. “The martyrs of 1931 were not fighting against any religion or community. They were demanding their basic rights and dignity,” he asserted.
“If they admire Nathuram Godse, who killed Mahatma Gandhi, then what’s wrong in remembering the martyrs of July 13 who sacrificed their lives for the rights of the people?”
Choudhary also highlighted that Maharaja Hari Singh had convened an official inquiry—the Glancy Commission—into the killings, which underscores that those who fell were not criminals but victims of oppression and injustice.
He criticized the BJP for attempting to distort history and target the July 13 martyrs. “Instead of launching divisive campaigns, BJP should explain its silence on the deteriorating condition of the J&K’s hotel industry, transport sector, industrial sector and other burning public issues in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Senior leaders Ajay Sadhotra and Rattan Lal Gupta also spoke on the occasion. A two- minute silence was observed in the memory of the Martyrs.
Among those who were present included Bimla Luthra, Pardeep Bali, Ayub Malik, Vijay Lochan, Abdul Gani Teli,Tejinder Singh, Rakesh Singh, Chander Mohan Sharma, Abid Magrey, Harshvardhan Singh, Rita Gupta, Dilshad Malik, Master Aslam and others.
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