– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi/Srinagar: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has condemned the police for manhandling Omar Abdullah and detaining other political leaders in Srinagar. The party called it a “shameful assault on democratic rights” by the BJP-led central government.
CPI(M) demanded a public apology from Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. They called the treatment of opposition leaders “disgraceful and unacceptable.”
The incident happened on July 13 at the Naqshband Sahib graveyard in Srinagar. Leaders had gathered to mark Martyrs’ Day, which commemorates the killing of 22 unarmed Kashmiris in 1931 by the Dogra army. Police stopped the gathering and detained several leaders.
In a strong statement, CPI(M)’s Polit Bureau said Omar Abdullah’s manhandling and the detention of Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami show the BJP’s “authoritarian and sectarian” rule in J&K.
The party said it was outrageous that an elected CM was mistreated. They criticized the police for placing senior leaders under house arrest for trying to pay tribute to Kashmir’s martyrs.
CPI(M) also accused the BJP of “deliberate historical revisionism.” They condemned the scrapping of Martyrs’ Day as a public holiday and replacing it with the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh, under whose rule the 1931 killings happened.
They said this change insulted the 1931 martyrs. The CPI(M) accused the BJP of trying to erase the memory of resistance and push a one-sided version of history.
The Martyrs’ Day holiday was removed in 2020. This came a year after Article 370 and 35A were revoked. Jammu & Kashmir was split into two Union Territories, and the Centre took full control of law and order.
Many political parties and civil society groups in Kashmir have opposed these changes. They say it is an effort to erase Kashmir’s political and cultural identity.
After his release from detention, CPI(M) leader Tarigami spoke to reporters. He said the incident was not just an insult to the martyrs but a blow to Indian democracy. He added that stopping elected leaders from offering prayers at a graveyard shows how poor civil liberties have become in Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah, President of the National Conference, also reacted on X. He said it was a new low to be manhandled by uniformed officers just for wanting to lay flowers on martyrs’ graves.
Local reports confirmed heavy police and paramilitary deployment near the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Khanyar. Barricades were placed, and many leaders and citizens were turned away. Officers on duty mentioned “law and order concerns,” but no formal reason was given.
CPI(M) repeated its demand for a public apology from LG Manoj Sinha. The party also asked for the Martyrs’ Day holiday to be restored and for an end to the ongoing repressive actions.
They said the BJP must stop hurting the emotions of the people of J&K. “Democratic rights must be protected,” the party added, “including the right to remember history.”
The incident caused widespread anger. Opposition parties like the PDP, Congress, and civil society groups condemned the police actions. They called it an attack on Kashmiri identity and memory.
Dr. Hameeda Nayeem, a retired professor and noted intellectual in Srinagar, said the government was not just changing history, but also criminalizing memory. She added that July 13 was deeply rooted in Kashmiri identity as a symbol of resistance and dignity.
On this day, 22 protestors were killed by the Dogra army outside Srinagar Central Jail. They had gathered to demand the release of Abdul Qadeer, a political activist. The massacre marked the first organized resistance against princely rule in Kashmir.
Until 2019, the day was marked with state ceremonies, speeches, and floral tributes. After Article 370 was scrapped, these commemorations were either cancelled or blocked.
A recent editorial in a major Srinagar-based daily said these actions prove Kashmir is being ruled, not governed. The editorial added, “Suppressing peaceful remembrance is coercion, not governance.”
