BJP Demands Inquiry, NC hit out at CM saying CM responsible for the disgrace
Shahid imran/ Malik Sameed
Srinagar, July 10: JK PDP has to face yet another major embarrassment as its coalition partner BJP has refused to accept July 13 as the martyr’s day.
Every year government celebrates the July 13 as Martyrs day and on that day chief minister of the state visit the martyrs grave yard in Khowja Bazar to pay floral tributes to the martyrs.
BJP has been opposing the function since day one and refuse to accept this day as martyr’s day. As this year BJP Ministers are bound to pay the tributes at grave yard, the Party leadership is at the cross road.
Adding fuel to the fire, BJP state leadership has demanded thorough probe of July 13 1931 killings. Party leaders here in Srinagar said that victims had revolted against the regime of then Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh.
BJP MLC and party leader Ramesh Arora while talking to Kashmir scenario said BJP as a party has never accepted martyrs day in Kashmir.
“He said that party and govt has different ideologies and BJP workers as well as party will not observe the martyrs day, as the killings on July 13 need to be investigated, he added
While July 13 is officially observed as Martyrs Day in J&K, the occasion has put the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in a tight spot as the party has never accepted those killed on July 13, 1931, as martyrs.
The BJP is of the belief that the Though Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed will lead the government in paying tributes at the Martyrs Graveyard at the shrine of Hazrat Naqshband Sahib (RA) in old city here, the BJP ministers and party leaders are in a fix how to deal with the day.
For separatists, the day has historic importance as they believe that martyrs of 1931 set the base for Kashmir’s freedom struggle by revolting against the autocratic Dogra rule. Pro-freedom leadership has decided not to call for strike on July 13 this year and instead have announced a joint procession from Jamia Masjid to Martyrs Graveyard.
“BJP has never paid tributes to those killed on July 13, 1931. We as a party believe that there is doubt whether they should be called martyrs or not,” senior BJP leader and party’s Kashmir affairs
Opposition National Conference has hit out at PDP saying BJP has insulted the martyrs of Kashmir and puts responsibility to Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed. “It is because of Mufti sahib, we have seen this day when a coalition partner is insulting the amrtyrs” Party Spokesperson Junaid Azim Matoo said.
Commenting on the BJPs demand of inquiry, Mattoo said There will be no inquiry in this matter. HE said firstly there should be inquiry to know why a person became president of their party who killed Ishrat Jehan “There will be no inquiry as that will be disgrace to martyrs . We will continue to observe this day to pay respect to them”.