J&K Leaders Honor 1931 Martyrs, Sajad Lone Demands Holiday Restoration

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, and People's Conference president Sajad Gani Lone paid tributes to those who laid down their lives protesting against the rule of Dogra Maharaja Hari Singh in 193.

According to a party spokesperson, the leaders describe the sacrifice of the 'martyrs' as a defining chapter in Jammu and Kashmir's struggle for justice, dignity and democratic rights.

"July 13 remains a historic watershed that ignited a mass movement against autocracy, oppression and injustice in the erstwhile princely state," the spokesperson said.

Farooq Abdullah said the sacrifice made by the protestors continues to inspire generations in the pursuit of justice, truth and peace.

"The undying thirst for dignity cannot be suppressed by injustice. The July 13 martyrs proved that perseverance and the spirit of peaceful resistance ultimately triumph over tyranny. I pay my humble tributes to these brave souls and appeal especially to our youth to remain connected with the history of our collective struggle," he said.

Chief Minister Abdullah said the lives laid down on July 13 would forever symbolise humanity's unwavering quest for dignity, justice and fundamental rights.

"I pay my humble tributes to our great martyrs who laid down their lives to challenge autocratic rule. Their sacrifice marked a turning point that awakened generations to rise against injustice. July 13 will always remind us of the enduring power of unity, compassion and peaceful resistance in the face of oppression," he said.

Launching a scathing attack on the NC government, Lone accused the party of relegating history to irrelevance while substituting governance with political spectacle.

"This government has made no sincere effort to restore this public holiday, honouring the sacrifice of our native heroes. It has chosen theatre over truth, rhetoric over resolve and in doing so, has turned its back on history itself," he said.

Lone asserted that collective memory cannot be extinguished through executive decrees.

"No government order can erase what a people choose to remember," he said, adding that the restoration of July 13 as a public holiday is not a concession but a long-overdue obligation rooted in historical justice.

Restoring the day as a public holiday, he said, would transcend symbolism.

July 13 used to be a public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir before the reorganisation of the erstwhile state into two Union territories in August 2019. A state function would be held every year to honour the 'martyrs'.

However, the administration dropped the day from the list of gazetted holidays in 2020.