Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has criticised the administration’s decision to block public access to the Naqshband Sahib shrine on Martyrs’ Day, calling the move “blatantly undemocratic.”
In a strongly worded post on X, the National Conference vice-president compared the July 13, 1931, killings to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, saying the 22 Kashmiris who died protesting outside Srinagar Central Jail were martyrs who stood against British rule.
“13th July massacre is our Jallianwala Bagh. The people who laid down their lives did so against the British. Kashmir was being ruled under the British Paramountcy,” Omar wrote.
He expressed anguish that the victims are now being vilified due to their religious identity.
“What a shame that true heroes who fought against British rule in all its forms are today projected as villains only because they were Muslims,” he added.
The former CM also condemned the deployment of police and central forces, closure of key bridges, and reports of people’s homes being locked from outside.
“We may be denied the opportunity to visit their graves today but we will not forget their sacrifices… I will never understand what the Law & Order government is so afraid of,” Omar stated.
The administration had on Saturday sealed the Khawaja Bazar graveyard and imposed restrictions to prevent any political or public gathering, marking the sixth consecutive year of official non-observance of Martyrs’ Day since Article 370 was revoked.
