The Ongoing Debate Over Kashmir’s Martyrs’ Day

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called martyrs “traitors” and sparked a political clash.

July 13 is observed as a Martyr’s Day in Indian history. In 1931, 22 Kashmiris were killed that day. Dogra forces killed those Kashmiris. However, political clashes occur during the legislative assembly’s budget session upon the significance of that day. The debate intensified when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members walked out in protest.

BJP walkout over Martyrs’ day dispute:

Sunil Sharma, during the budget session, called those 22 Kashmiris “traitors.” Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather removed his words from the official record. BJP members got furious, and resultantly, all 28 members walked out of the assembly in protest.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s response:

Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned Sharma’s remarks. He stated that the Kashmiris killed on July 13, 1931, were innocent civilians. They were standing up for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He described their deaths as a cold-blooded massacre.

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Before August 5, 2019, both ruling and opposition parties in Kashmir observed Martyrs’ Day. Every year, political leaders would gather at the graveyard to pay tribute to the fallen. However, this changed after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. The day was removed from the list of public holidays.

PDP’s call to restore Martyrs’ day as a public holiday:

During the session, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Parra demanded the restoration of July 13 as a public holiday. He also suggested that December 5 should be declared a holiday. December 5 is the birth date of the founder of the National Conference, Sheikh Abdullah. Despite BJP members attempting to interrupt him, Parra continued his speech.

Arguments in favor of restoring the holiday:

Waheed Parra stated that Martyrs’ Day is a symbol to stand with democracy. He, however, stated that the 22 men who died on July 13, 1931, sacrificed their lives for democratic rights, not only for Muslims but also for Hindus in Jammu. He insisted that unless the government reinstates the holiday, true justice will not be served.

BJP’s opposition to the resolution:

After Parra’s speech, BJP leader Sharma strongly opposed the resolution. He claimed that the 22 men killed in 1931 were not martyrs but traitors. This statement reignited the controversy and deepened the political divide.