Altaf Hamid Rao;
MIRPUR, (Parliament Times): Like both sides of the line of control and rest of the world, UK-based Pakistani and Kashmiri Diaspora also commemorated the Kashmir Martyrs day on Monday paying rich tributes to 22 valiant sons of the soil who laid down their lives in front of Srinagar central jail 89 years ago this day in 1931 laying the foundation stone of the Kashmir freedom struggle raising mutiny against the despotic Hindu dogra ruler in the Muslim-majority Jammu & Kashmir State. Speaking at a brief gathering hosted by Global Pakistan Kashmir Supreme Council (GPKSC), a Kashmiri rights outfit and thinktank, in London on Monday, to mark the martyrs day an icon of exceptional significance in the history of Kashmir freedom movement, the GPKSC Chairman Raja Sikander Khan and President of the organization Kala Khan paid rich tributes to 22 unarmed peaceful protesters who were gunned down by Maharaja Hari Singh’s armed forces in front of the Srinagar Central Jail this day in 1931 triggering an uprising against the erstwhile oppressive Dogra rulers, says a message reaching and released to the media here Monday night. They said that that the people of Jammu & Kashmir living both sides of the LoC and rest of the day observe July 13. 1931 as Martyrs Day every year to commemorate the supreme sacrifices of live given by 22 of the brave sons of the soil during a protest in front of the central jail Srinagar demanding the release of Abdul Qadeer, who had dared to condemn the oppressive Dogra ruler of Kashmir. Paying tributes to the Jammu Kashmir martyrs, the GPKSC Chairman reminded the people of the great sacrifices the martyrs who rendered to free people and the State from the clutches of autocracy and suppression. Highlighting the role of the Jammu Kashmir martyrs in paving way for independence from the totalitarian regime and ushering the State in an era of democracy and self respect. He said July 13, 1931 is the day to reiterate “our promise to continue to strive for the resolution of Kashmir Issue”.
He said people of Occupied Jammu Kashmir had carried forward the martyrs struggle with firm determination and commitment. He said “The best way to pay homage to the martyrs was to stand United for the right to self determination accordance with United Nations resolutions,”. The GPKSC Chiarman recalled that July 13, 1931 martyrs has sacrificed their lives to fight the autocratic Dogra rule. India, he said, shall have to respond to the political and human aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir according to United Nations resolutions on Kashmir. He said that the historic July 13, 1931 day inspires kashmiri nation every year to streamline and strengthen their struggle against Indian occupation, with renewed pledge.
He said the day signifies the commencement of an era, which should be observed as the struggle of people for restoring their special status and identity as an internationally-recognized disputed status of the Jammu & Kashmir state. Paying rich tributes to the July 13 martyrs, the GPKSC President Kala Khan said: “their martyrdom paved the way for achieving the cherished objective of right to self determination in the true spirit of democracy and due human rights.” Khan said people of Jammu and Kashmir would always remember the sacrifices rendered by the martyrs of 1931 for establishing a democratic rule of Muslims in the internationally-acknowledged disputed Muslim-dominated Himalayan state. He called upon the people of Jammu Kashmir to continue upholding the high values and principles of the valiant Kashmiri freedom fighters and work toward fulfillment of their liberation from the forced clutches of the Indian colonial rule.
