In the run up to Jammu and Kashmir Martyrs Day on July 13, both National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have expressed a resolve to visit the 'Mazar-e-Shuhada' graveyard in downtown Srinagar. July 13 is marked as Martyrs’ Day as a homage to the 22 Kashmiris who fell to the bullets of the Dogra army while protesting the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh in 1931. Formerly a public holiday in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, it was scrapped by the Lieutenant Governor-led administration after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Entry to the mazar-e-shuhada (martyr's graveyard) has also been restricted on previous occasions. At a meeting at its headquarters, the PDP unanimously resolved to visit the 'Mazar-e-Shuhada' on July 13 to pay tribute to the 1931 Martyrs. The meeting came three days after the National Conference met at the party headquarters to “assess the ongoing arrangements for the observance of the death anniversary of Madar-e-Meharban Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah and Martyrs’ Day, scheduled for 11 and 13 July respectively”. The meeting on July 7 was chaired by the NC general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar. A day later, Sagar wrote to the Srinagar deputy commissioner that party president Farooq Abdullah and other NC leaders plan to visit the martyr’s graveyard on July 13. After this, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said the decision appeared to be “more like lip service than any serious effort”. In a post on X, she said: “Omar Abdullah government's proposal sent to LG about declaring July 13 and December 5 as public holidays would have carried weight if the Speaker had supported PDP's resolution for the same in the assembly. The Speaker's outright rejection of the resolution was unexpected and disappointing”. Last year, leaders such as Mufti and Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone were restricted to their residences on July 13. At Thursday’s meeting, PDP leader Ghulam Nabi Lone stated that “no official order can diminish the legacy of the martyrs or the ideals for which they stood.” The PDP also criticised the “continued attempts” to dilute J&K’s unique political and historical identity, asserting that “suppressing symbols of collective memory will only deepen the people's resolve to protect their legacy”. The NC’s statement Thursday too was on similar lines. In it, the party said it had solemnly observed Martyrs' Day on 13th July for decades. However, “…since 2019, we have repeatedly been denied the right to commemorate this historic day - a day deeply rooted in the collective memory and political conscience of our people”, it said. This year, the party has formally sought permission to visit the mazar, it said. “We sincerely hope that this time, our democratic and peaceful request will be respected, and that the National Conference will be allowed to mark this day in accordance with tradition and sentiment,” the NC statement said. Meanwhile, National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said that the NC government will restore the July 13 holiday and mark the day with the same significance that they do each year. "The NC wil restore this holiday. This is why we keep repeating our demand for statehood - because some decisions are in our purview and some are to be sent to the Raj Bhawan. We have promised that all such holidays, including July 13 will be restored to J&K's calendar," he said. Accusing the BJP of "playing politics" on the issue, Sadiq said, "We will not stop. We have resolved to do this and we will achieve it."
