Srinagar, July 10: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr. Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Friday paid tributes to the July 13, 1931 martyrs, saying their sacrifice remains “etched in our collective memory” and that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will always honour them for their struggle for rights and dignity.
Addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar ahead of the 95th anniversary of the killings, Mirwaiz recalled that 21 Kashmiris were shot while demanding basic rights, describing the incident as the beginning of the people’s long struggle for human rights and dignity.
“13th July is upon us, a day when we recount the sacrifice of 21 innocent Kashmiris who were shot dead on this day 95 years ago in 1931 for demanding basic rights, and laid the foundation for the long struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for human rights and dignity,” he said.
Mirwaiz said the historic Jamia Masjid had witnessed the funeral prayers of the slain protesters, led by Muhajir-e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulana Muhammad Yusuf Shah and attended by tens of thousands of people.
He said that since the time of Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq, it had been a tradition to take out a peaceful procession to the Martyrs’ Graveyard to pay homage to the July 13 martyrs and renew the people’s commitment to peacefully pursue the ideals for which they laid down their lives.
Mirwaiz said that if the authorities permit, people would follow the longstanding tradition this year by visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Naqshband Sahib after Zuhr prayers on July 13 to offer Fatiha and pay tributes.
Turning to the National Conference’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, Mirwaiz said he had received an invitation from party president Farooq Abdullah to participate.
He welcomed efforts aimed at restoring the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying such initiatives were necessary if pursued with sincerity. He also said the National Conference government had a responsibility to fulfil its electoral promise of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s pre-2019 constitutional position, including statehood and Articles 370 and 35A.
