Politicians and others have paid rich tributes to July 13, 1931 martyrs.
CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami in a statement said, “the day isto be commemorated as the struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir forupholding the values of democracy, social justice and human values. It is ahistoric event in J&K state and its significance will remain for futuregenerations as well.”
“Unfortunately there are voices which are distorting thesignificance and role of these martyrs. There is an attempt to portrait the dayas an event related to Kashmir only while the fact remains that it laid downthe basis for re-structuring the whole society on democratic lines. It is sometimebeing projected as a movement against Dogras which is also a distortion. Thosevaliant people fought against autocratic tyranny and laid down their lives forbuilding a new society, free from exploitation and oppression. Their sacrificescontributed in laying down foundations for democracy in the state. Suchsacrifices of our heroes should not be allowed to be exploited by vestedinterests to divide the people on the lines of region, caste and creed,”Tarigami added.
President of Democratic Party Nationalist and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir in astatement said, “The 1931 martyrs gavesacrifices for changing the political situation and to empower the peoplepolitically as well as economically. While a certain breakthrough has beenmade, but the fact is that people of the state have been made economically moreand more dependent.”
President of Awami Ithad Party Er Rasheed in a statementsaid, “Those who sacrificed their lives, gave their blood for a better futureof their generations but the fact is that Kashmiris have seen nothing changing,except getting rid of autocratic rule of Maharaja but finding themselves in amore humiliating and miserable situation at the hands of democratically electedgovernments from 1947 till date.”
Chairman of Peoples Democratic Front Hakeem Yaseen in astatement said, “Sacrifices of the valiant martyrs will continue to inspirepeople of the state to fight for their rights, dignity and justice.”
He expressed dismay over exploitation of the sacrifices ofthe 13 July Martyrs, by some opportunistic political parties of the state fortheir petty interests.
J&K High Court Bar Association Srinagar in a statementsaid, “the Bar Association expects that the people of Kashmir will carryforward the mission of July 13 martyrs for which they have sacrificed a lot interms of men and material, for the past 70 years.”
Jamiat-e-Hamadania chief Moulana Riyaz Hamadani in astatement said “these martyrs are pioneers of all political struggles in thestate.”
He also paid homageto Mujahid Ahmadullah Hamadani on his 81st anniversary.