Jammu and Kashmir: Row over BJP leader's remarks against 1931 martyrs

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday, 5 March, hit out at BJP leader Sunil Sharma for making outrageous remarks against the martyrs of 13 July 1931.

More than 20 unarmed protesters were killed by the soldiers of the Dogra army on 13 July 1931 during an uprising against erstwhile Maharaja Hari Singh.

Leader of the Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly Sunil Sharma on Wednesday, 5 March, made some objectionable comments in the House about the 1931 martyrs, that Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather later had expunged from the record.

"Strongly condemn the outrageous remarks by a BJP member in the Assembly with regard to the martyrs of 13th July, 1931 who were killed in cold blood for standing up for the rights and dignity of the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir," Mirwaiz posted on his X handle.

He said the 1931 martyrs are revered by everyone in Jammu and Kashmir, and any attempt to malign them will be resisted.

"These martyrs revered by one and all in J&K are part of our collective memory of the great sacrifices rendered by the people of Kashmir for their rights, and any attempt to malign them will be firmly resisted," he added.

July 13 used to be a public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir with the governor or the chief minister paying tributes at an official function in the Nowhatta area of the city to those who were killed.

The holiday was scrapped and official functions are not held anymore following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

However, the BJP members staged a walkout in protests after the Speaker removed Sharma’s remarks — calling the martyrs "arsonists" and "terrorists" — from the record.

This was in response to PDP (People's Democratic Party) leader Waheed Para reading out a resolution for the restoration of the martyr's day celebrations.

Speaking to the press outside, Sharma pressed his point with a rather confusing narrative, claiming, "Those who revolted against a welfare ruler like Maharaja Hari Singh can't be martyrs. They were killed after they attacked a Hindu mohalla."

He then went on to claim that these protestors were martyred because of weakness of Congress party.

He also claimed that a PDP member (likely a nod to Waheed Para) had issued a "threat" to India.

The resolution on martyr's day had first been moved by Sajad Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference

In his earlier speech, the LoP had also slammed National Conference leader Mir Saifullah’s earlier remarks on PoK (Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir), calling them a "reflection of his DNA".

He accused the National Conference government of being ‘non-serious’ about public issues and claimed the BJP would not allow "unconstitutional and anti-national remarks" in the assembly.

Yesterday, speaking to IANS, Sharma had laid into Sajad Lone as well, claiming that discussion of Article 370 now was "foolishness", since the Supreme Court had legitimised its abrogation. Here too, he had ascribed it to Lone’s "love for Pakistan" and remarked on his in-laws.

Apparently remarks from anyone with any ties to Islam or Pakistan are deemed anti-national by the LoP, just as discussions on judgements by the Supreme Court are unconstitutional.

With PTI inputs

Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Surinder Chaudhary told the press that the 13 July martyrs gave their lives to strengthen the nation and its Constitution