Team Clarion
SRINAGAR — An uproar erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday when opposition PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para called for the restoration of the July 13 holiday, which was previously observed as ‘Martyrs Day’ in the erstwhile state. This day commemorates the sacrifice of those killed on July 13, 1931, in a firing incident outside the Srinagar central jail during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh.
The debate took a sharp turn when BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma dismissed the martyrs as “traitors.” His remarks were met with immediate backlash from opposition members, particularly those from the National Conference (NC) and other Kashmir-based parties, who were outraged by the statement. They demanded that Sharma’s comments be expunged from the Assembly records, calling them divisive and humiliating.
During the discussion on the motion of thanks on the Lt Governor’s address, Para demanded the restoration of the July 13 ‘Martyrs Day holiday’. After Para had ended his speech, BJP leader Sunil Kumar Sharma stood up and objected to his demand.
The leaders demanded that the remarks be expunged from the records of the House.
“These remarks were humiliating and divisive and should be withdrawn or expunged from the records,” demanded MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat.
Amid continuous slogan shouting between the NC and BJP MLAs, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather announced that the remarks had been expunged from the records of the House.
All the BJP MLAs staged a walkout from the House in protest against the expunging of Sharma’s remarks.
The controversy sparked wider condemnation, political leaders and activists from across the region. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the prominent religious and political leader, took to social media to strongly condemn the BJP leader’s statement.
“Strongly condemn the outrageous remarks by a BJP member in assembly with regard to the martyrs of 13th July 1931, who were killed in cold blood for standing up for the rights and dignity of the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir. These martyrs, revered by one and all in J&K,are part of our collective memory of the great sacrifices rendered by the people of Kashmir for their rights, and any attempt to malign them will be firmly resisted,” Mirwaiz wrote on Twitter.
Later, Peoples Conference (PC) MLA Sajad Gani Lone demanded that the House pass a resolution for the restoration of holidays on Martyrs Day and on the birthday of NC founder, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.
It must be mentioned that after J&K came under the direct Central rule, both July 13 and December 5 (the Birthday of NC founder) were removed from the list of holidays.
Instead, the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, was included in the list of holidays to be observed in the union territory. — With inputs from agencies
