J&K: Ahead of martyrs' day, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz claims he is under house arrest

Srinagar: The authorities once again did not allow Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to address the Friday congregation at the Jama Masjid in Srinagar.

Mirwaiz said the authorities put him under house arrest fearing the mention of the "martyrs" of July 13, 1931, during his Friday sermon.

"Sacrifice of these martyrs, and all the martyrs since, is etched in the collective memory of Kashmir and cannot be undone by restrictions and bans. No living nation can forget the supreme sacrifice of life of its martyrs against tyranny and injustice," said a statement of Anjuman Auqaf of Jama Masjid.


The Martyrs' Day commemorates the incident where 22 Kashmiris were killed by the forces of Dogra Maharaja on July 13, 1931, in Kashmir. The day was observed as an official holiday across Jammu and Kashmir till 2019. Following the abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A) and downgrading the erstwhile state of J&K into the two Union territories of J&K and Ladakh, the then administration dropped Martyrs' Day from the holiday list.

Mirwaiz said the authorities should remove the restrictions and allow people to peacefully pay homage to the martyrs of July 13. "Inshallah, if allowed as per tradition, I will visit the martyrs' graveyard after Zuhr prayers and pay homage to the revered martyrs," said the statement.