Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 12: Dr Rama Kant Dubey, patron VHP has strongly opposed the observance of July 13 as Martyrs’ Day.
Talking to reporters here today, he said in the year 1939 Abdul Kadir-the cook of a British Intelligence Officer came to the State and started anti India movement along with local Muslims under a hatched conspiracy.
He said the cook gave a provocative speech in a local shrine of Srinagar city of Kashmir Valley to instigate the people of majority community for violence. Though Kadir was immediately arrested by the Government to maintain law and order and he was taken to a local jail, his case was under trail in the court of law. But a crowd of 4000 to 5000 people attacked the jail in order to free Kadir, he added.
Dr Dubey said that police in order to control the situation and maintain law and order in the city opened fire in self defense after serving warnings to unruly crowd. In the firing 21 people were killed and people took the dead bodies in a procession to the main bazars of Srinagar. The frenzied mob looted the shops and properties belonging to minority community and three members of the community were also killed by the hooligans, he added.
He said the Muslims who lost their lives were later treated as martyrs and July 13 is being observed in their memory as Martyrs Day.
Dr Dubey, while questioning the observance of the day as Martyrs’ Day said the deceased have not done any heroic deed like martyrs.
While criticizing the observance of the day as Martyrs Day, Dr Dubey said it sends a wrong signal to other community members who have been forced to leave their homes and hearths 25 years back and the Government was trying for their return to Valley.
He said how can the confidence of these people be restored who have been forced to flee from Valley when Government, political and non political organizations are observing this day as Martyrs’ Day.
He urged the Government to stop observing the day as Martyrs Day and cancel the public holiday on July 13. VHP leaders Karan Singh Charak and Bal Krishan Gupta were also present in the press conference.
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