Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and head of the Awami Majlis-e-Amal, has issued a strong condemnation of remarks made by BJP leader Sunil Sharma in the assembly of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The remarks concerned the martyrs of July 13, 1931.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, Mirwaiz expressed his disapproval in a social media post, condemning the comments as “outrageous” and emphasizing that the martyrs were killed for advocating for the rights and dignity of the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir. He further noted that the 1931 martyrs hold a revered place in the hearts of everyone in IIOJK and warned against any attempts to malign their legacy.

The historical context of this issue dates back to July 13, 1931, when over 20 unarmed protesters were killed by the Dogra army soldiers during an uprising against Maharaja Hari Singh.

Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosavi Al-Safavi, another senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and President of the Anjuman Shari Shian, echoed the condemnation. In a press statement, Agha Hassan criticized the BJP’s language regarding the July 13 martyrs, indicating that the party is attempting to rewrite the history of Kashmir to align with its ideological goals.