Srinagar, July 11, KNT: Amid renewed political debate over the July 13 Martyrs’ Day observance, the National Conference (NC) on Thursday reiterated its firm commitment to reinstating the holiday removed from the official calendar following the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.
Speaking to reporters at a party event, NC’s chief spokesperson and MLA from Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, assured that the party would “definitely bring back” the July 13 holiday at the earliest opportunity. “We’ve made a promise, and we intend to fulfil it. This holiday will return, and it will return soon,” Sadiq stated.
The historic day commemorates the 1931 massacre of 22 Kashmiris who were killed by the forces of the Dogra Maharaja outside Central Jail Srinagar while demanding civil liberties and justice. It had been officially marked as a government holiday for decades until it was removed from the calendar by the Jammu and Kashmir administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha after the abrogation of the region’s special status.
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Tanvir Sadiq argued that the removal of the Martyrs’ Day holiday was part of a larger strategy aimed at erasing the political and historical identity of Jammu and Kashmir. “This is why we’ve consistently demanded the restoration of statehood. Only when we regain our political space can we begin to rectify the damage that has been done,” he said.
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Sadiq confirmed that the NC had submitted a formal request to the District Magistrate of Srinagar, seeking permission to offer tributes and recite Fatiha at the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqshband Sahib in old Srinagar. “We only want to pay homage. If the ruling party itself is asking to honour those who live in the collective memory of the people, where is the threat to law and order?” he questioned.
Hitting out at the administration, he said it was “unfortunate and shameful” that offering prayers for martyrs made the Raj Bhawan “uncomfortable.”
Turning his criticism toward political rivals, Sadiq accused PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari of political opportunism over their recent statements supporting the observance of Martyrs’ Day. “When Mehbooba was chief minister, not a single BJP cabinet minister in her coalition ever visited the graveyard on July 13,” Sadiq said.
He also noted the symbolic erasure of Jammu and Kashmir’s distinct identity under Mehbooba’s rule. “They didn’t even allow the state flag on their official vehicles. These parties now wish to lecture us about Martyrs’ Day? It was their alliance with BJP that paved the way for what happened in 2019,” he said, referring to the constitutional changes made that year.
Calling it a “deeply unfortunate” trend, Sadiq said both PDP and Apni Party had lost public trust. “People have rejected them, and no amount of posturing will change that,” he added.
The NC leader concluded by reiterating that honouring the martyrs of July 13 transcends political rivalries and should not be obstructed under the guise of maintaining order.
