J&K CM Omar Abdullah, Ministers visit Srinagar’s Mazar-e-Shuhada, says ‘barriers were raised, but so was our resolve’

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with his senior Ministers and legislators, on Monday (July 14, 2025), in an act of defiance to the Lieutenant Governor administration’s stand on the slain civilians of 1931 reached the Mazar-e-Shuhada in Srinagar and paid tributes.

Mr. Abdullah was seen walking up to the Naqsbandh Sahib shrine at Khawaja Bazar, where 22 civilians killed during an uprising against the Dogra ruler are buried. The Chief Minister scaled the fenced wall of the premises because the security forces had blocked the entrance of the graveyard. A police officer made a bid to stop the J&K Chief Minister from offering ‘fateha’ at the graveyard.

National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah also joined the party leaders to offer floral tributes and recite special prayers for the deceased civilians. A senior Cabinet minister, Sakina Ittoo, rode a two-wheeler to avoid the security checkpoints and reached the site.

It comes a day after the L-G administration barred the government and regional parties from paying tributes at the site. The BJP had described the deceased civilians as “rioters”. The L-G administration dropped July 13 from the official holiday calendar of J&K after the Centre ended J&K’s special status in 2019.

“I was pushed, shoved and grappled by ‘protectors of the law’. My crime? Wanting to offer Fatiha at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931. The men in uniform sometimes forget the law. I won’t be stopped and I won’t be browbeaten. Barriers were raised, but so was our resolve,” Mr. Abdullah said.

Targeting J&K L-G Manoj Sinha, Mr. Abdullah said, “It is unfortunate. Those who claim their only responsibility is law and order — we were not allowed to offer ‘fateha’ on July 13. When I told the control room that I intended to visit, a bunker vehicle was parked outside my residence till midnight (on Sunday). Even today they (security forces) tried to stop us by erecting vehicles. If the restrictions were for July 13, under what law was I stopped today?” Mr. Abdullah said.

He said this country is known as a free country, “but they (the L-G administration) think we are their slaves”. “We are not their slaves. We are servants of our people. They even tried to tear our party flag. If they stop us on July 13, we will visit on the next day or next month. No one can stop us,” the Chief Minister said.

Visibly angry over the police action, NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq said it is for the first time in the history of India that “an unelected government locked up an elected government”.

“What are they trying to tell the world that there is no democracy in J&K? What saddens us more is that no one in Delhi condemned the action. We have been paying tributes to these martyrs for decades in J&K. Those taking decisions do not realise the ground realities of J&K,” Mr. Sadiq said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the J&K L-G administration’s actions. “What is wrong in visiting the graveyard of martyrs? This is not only unfortunate, it also snatches the democratic right of a citizen. What happened this morning to an elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is unacceptable. Shocking. Shameful,” Ms. Banerjee said, in a tweet.

Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq posted a sarcastic statement on X over the police action. “Power teaches little, Powerlessness teaches more!

Today the CM sahab tasted the bitter medicine of authoritarian high-handedness and subsequent helplessness that common Kashmiris face everyday in different forms, as all agency and space are denied to them. Hoping this experience shifts his focus to what is the first priority of every people — upholding their dignity and their fundamental rights and working sincerely towards its restoration,” the Mirwaiz said.

Meanwhile, J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) president Sajad Lone said it was all scripted. “For a moment I was impressed. But now that you have given a ball-by-ball commentary of your so-called struggle in reaching the Martyrs Graveyard, I will bet my life. It was all scripted,” Mr. Lone said.