Srinagar, July 13 (JKNS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday termed the restrictions imposed on political leaders from visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard on July 13 as “unfortunate”, asserting that no barricade or security restriction can erase the sacrifices of the 1931 martyrs.
Speaking to reporters at the National Conference headquarters, Nawa-e-Subha, after paying floral tributes to the July 13 martyrs, CM Omar, as per news agency JKNS, said those who prevented leaders from visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada had failed to understand the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is unfortunate that those who fought against oppression and to protect the dignity of Jammu and Kashmir are today being denied tributes. Those who decided to seal Mazar-e-Shuhada should have first read the history of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the events of July 13, 1931 should not be viewed through the prism of religion.
“This was not a religious fight. It was a struggle against oppression, for democracy and against British paramountcy. Today, attempts are being made to present it as something else,” he said.
Omar Abdullah said the authorities had unnecessarily imposed restrictions despite the fact that only a small number of people intended to visit the graveyard.
“I don’t think more than 150 people would have gone there to pay tributes, yet they treated it as a threat. This itself contradicts the repeated claims that everything is normal,” he said.
He further remarked that those enforcing restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir were only temporary occupants.
“Those who managed to stop us from going to Mazar-e-Shuhada today are here temporarily. The people of Jammu and Kashmir will remain here. If not today, then tomorrow or the day after, we will certainly go there and pay our tributes,” Omar Abdullah said.
Questioning the prevailing situation, the Chief Minister said restrictions of this nature were not imposed even during previous Amarnath Yatra movements.
“We are repeatedly told everything is normal, but the ground reality says otherwise. Earlier, such restrictions were never imposed during the Yatra. Today they are doing it,” he said. (JKNS)
