Quiet and camouflage at Martyrs’ Graveyard as officials and politicians visit

On the 87th anniversary of the martyrs of 1931, the Martyrs’ Graveyard in the Naqshaband saheb’s shrine compound at Khoja Bazar on Friday received a line of top mainstream politicians from early morning paying floral tributes, with advisor to the Governor K Vijay Kumar representing the government turning up last.

 Government forces were deployed in strength and coils of concertina wire barricaded the area around the cemetery as a fully decorated police band contrasted the deathly silence outside, broken occasionally only by the sound of security vehicles whizzing past. 

   

It was all camouflages around the venue, a brigade of firefighters, a team of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and few traffic cops for a break in the scene. 

Entry inside the six centuries old Sufi shrine compound was possible only after undergoing thorough frisking. The compound was abuzz with leisurely chatter by workers of various mainstream  parties waiting for their leaders to make an appearance. 

At close to 7am, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan was the first to arrive along with Director General of Police SP Vaid and other senior government officials. They placed garlands at the martyrs’ gravestones and received a guard of honor, police trumpets piercing the still calm. 

Their departure suddenly activates some political workers including women who talk amongst themselves that NC high command is on way to the venue.

“We (NC) used to conduct jalsa (rally) during evening before 90s. It used to be full of pomp. Now times have changed,” says an NC old guard from Khanyar locality.

About 15 minutes later NC faces including Ali Mohammad Sagar, Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Nasir Aslam Wani, Mohammad Shafi Uri, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Shameema Firdous arrive along with their cadre. 

Their workers jostle to greet them at the graveyard making sure their presence registered.

The NC leaders go straight into the shrine to pay their obeisance. After few minutes they head towards Martyrs’ cemetery located on left side of the shrine. They wait for their leader Omar Abdullah.

Donning a white kurta salwar suite and a multicoloured prayer cap, Omar arrives. He repeats the routine as his party colleagues greet him near the tombstones of the martyrs. 

His arrival marks showering of flower petals at every gravestone with each from the party strategically positioning themselves in front of clicking cameras. Then all in chorus recite prayers for the martyrs with a gaunt man wearing karakul cap and achkan leading it at the top of his voice. 

Omar then recounts the ‘importance’ of the Martyrs’ Day and says the state Assembly should be dissolved so that no scope is left for horse trading. In the same breath the NC leader says powers should be given to the existing MLAs to get the jobs of common man done.

“Why we are being paid monthly salaries? It should be stopped,” Omar said. 

“Governor NN Vohra and advisors should have arrived at the venue as it is a ‘sate function’.”

As he leaves with his men, policemen and other officials present start chattering again, breaking for tea and snacks. 

Residents whose homes overlook the compound silently peep through windows as if engrossed watching some show.

Suddenly, some workers form two rows from venue entrance to the shrine. They say they are going give a rousing welcome to “madam”, referring to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti. 

“Ours should outsize NC walas,” say a PDP man from Nawakadal standing in one of the rows.

Clad in her customary scarf and abhaya Mufti arrives. She is not accompanied by prominent faces of her party. All the way towards the shrine she is greeted by her party cadre. She stops at the shrine gate. She then recites prayers and before heading towards cemetery hands over some money to the shrine’s custodians.

Mufti like her counterpart Omar places garlands over each martyr’s gravestone and offers prayers.

Coming down from the cemetery, Mehbooba announces that these martyrs were “Kashmir’s asset”, saying they sacrificed their lives for democracy. 

Mufti, like Omar also marks the Governor not visiting.

“Governor NN Vohra should have come to the venue,” Mufti said.

As soon as Mufti leaves the people responsible for logistic arrangements at the venue appeared preparing to remove the screens as if the official function was over when official direct them not to do so.

Some quite time passes before state president of Congress party, GM Mir along with his party men arrive but they go almost unnoticed. He was followed by Ghulam Hassan Mir, Hakeem Yaseen and lesser known Janata Dal United man in Kashmir, Abdul Rashid Shah who too offer their tributes to the martyrs and leave without anyone seeming interested at the venue.

A drizzle starts as officials at the venue start chatting about winding up the function within an hour. Suddenly, chants of ‘Kashmir ka masla hal karo (resolve Kashmir issue)’ and ‘Hai Haq Hamara Rajshumari (plebiscite is our right)’ pierce the still air. 

Independent legislator Er Rasheed enters the venue along with his supporters. He straightaway heads towards cemetery, offers prayers for the martyrs and addresses his supporters castigating both Omar and Mufti, saying both have lost moral authority to come over here. 

“They are responsible for miseries of Kashmiris. In Kashmir there is Changaizi rule,” Rasheed said, each time seeking approval of his supporters as he spoke.

As he leaves, municipality workers in the compound whisper among themselves about how the day passed peacefully for them. 

Just as it looked like the official function at the Martyrs’ Graveyard was over advisor to Governor, K Vijay Kumar and chief secretary to the government, BR Subramanian arrive. They were accompanied by high officials of police and civil administration. 

They quickly enter the shrine and then head towards the cemetery and placed garlands. 

Before leaving the compound almost in a huff, the whole official entourage briefly stopped at the shrine where its custodians appeared waiting for them. The advisor patiently heard the custodians who pleaded to get the shrine some uplift. 

The martyrs were once again left in peace. 

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