Kashmir observe youm-e-shohada amid restrictions
Srinagar: Kashmir on Thursday is observing Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir while the whole valley is observing complete shutdown. Jammu, however, is working routinely.
On July 13, 1931, the troops of autocratic Dogra Maharaja had martyred twenty two Kashmiris outside the central jail in Srinagar while court proceedings against Abdul Qadeer were taking place. Qadeer had called upon Kashmiris to defy the Dogra rule, resulting in his imprisonment.
While mainstream political parties paid obeisance at the martyrs graveyard at Naqshbandh Sahib Shrine in old city, however, government didn’t allow the resistance leaders to reach the martyrs graveyard.
Octogenarian Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani is under house since 2010, JKLF chairperson has been detained in central jail Srinagar. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been placed under house detention at his Nigeen residence.
Meanwhile, government has imposed strict restrictions in Old Srinagar areas. Mobile internet services have also been shut.
In their separate messages the joint resistance leaders paid exemplary tributes to the July 13 martyrs.
In his message, Geelani said: “The present freedom struggle of Kashmir is the part of the movement started by the martyrs of 1931. So, the best way of paying rich tributes to the martyrs of 1931 is that we should continue our struggle till the goal of right to self-determination is achieved. The sacrifices of martyrs of 1931 were once again bartered and humiliated in 1975 when the plebiscite movement was buried and Indira- Abdullah Accord came into existence and the leadership of that time surrendered before New Delhi merely for the chair.”
JKLF Chairperson, Muhammad Yasin in his message termed the July 13, 1931 martyrs as symbol of freedom and bravery. “Today we are remembering martyrs who demonstrated courage and stood firm against tyranny and oppression, endured bullets on their chests but refused to bow before tyranny, illegal occupation and dictatorship. The present people’s revolution that started in 1988 is actually a continuation of the struggle started in 1931. The struggle going on today is a continuation of 1931 and so is the tyranny, oppression and subjugation same. It is ironical that rulers and other pro-India forces despite being agents of oppressors celebrate martyr’s day and shower flowers on the graves of these martyrs and thus try to deceive people of Kashmir,” Malik said.
