AMM visited Martyrs’ graveyard, paid obeisance ‘1931 sacrifices necessitate introspection in States’s political spectrum’ Srinagar, July 13: Paying rich tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931, the Awami Mutahida Mahaz (AMM) has said this historic day calls for an introspection among all shades of political opinion in order to safeguard the democratic and secular values of the state for which the martyrs laid their lives. AMM leaders Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Hakim Mohammad Yasin, Abdul Rashid Kabuli and Khalid Tufail, who paid visit to the martyrs’ graveyard to pay obeisance observed that these great sons of soil sacrificed themselves for the cause of dignity of life and to uphold the democratic spirit thus paving a way for transformation of society and empowerment of our people. They said that 1931 martyrs had offered sacrifices essentially to ensure that the people of the state are empowered through institutions of governance. However, the successive regimes in the state through a systematic move have undermined the integrity of these institutions which are vital for the growth of any democratic system. Strongly condemning the restrictions imposed and the use of force against the locals, the AMM leaders said that such restrictions were unwarranted at a time when the people prefer to visit mosques rather than to form any unwarranted assemblies. Assuring the locals, who met them at Mazar-e-Shuhda, the AMM leaders said that they will raise the hardships the locals have faced since yesterday with the authorities concerned. The AMM leaders demanded that restrictions be lifted in the areas falling in vicinity of Mazar-e-Shuhda forthwith. The AMM leaders observed that various undemocratic steps are being taken to deprive people of Jammu and Kashmir of their democratic rights. “Be it the genuine demand for employment, safe drinking water, hassle free electricity or smooth roads, the peaceful protests are being muzzled by the use of excessive force. The trade unions are being choked to raise their genuine issues through police interference and use of draconian measures. We can’t claim to be a democracy as long as we have to resort to draconian laws and illegal methods to suppress the voices that government of the day does not like or does not have the capacity to engage and address politically. The sacrifices for a welfare state were not aimed at the governments being unable to face any occasion without resorting to force and illegal restrictions,” they remarked, adding that a substantial section of the society are being still being deprived to earn a dignified livelihood. “We have to ensure that oppression, tyrannies and stifling of rights in every form must be put to an end and that rights guaranteed to the people are not suppressed through any means,” they said, adding that the memorial functions on this day at official and unofficial level should not be shallow and hollow exercises of self- glorification but an occasion of self-introspection. The AMM leaders observed the day has to be commemorated as the struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for upholding the values of democracy, social justice and human values. “These functions should invoke a resolve to fight injustices of all kinds and to uphold the democratic values is the only way to pay homage to the martyrs.” They further observed that the sacrifices offered by the sons of soil in 1931 had laid strong edifice of a democratic system in the state but the prevailing scenario of governance calls for a brood over into the objectives of these huge sacrifices. On this day, the AMM leaders said, the uprising aimed at relieving people of the state from position of exclusion and suppression needs to be recollected by political mainstream especially those who are at the helms of affairs so as to ponder whether they have come up to vision with which those sacrifices were made. The AMM leaders also asked the voices of dissent to ponder that 1931 sacrifices are embedded with great values of pluralism and a peaceful protest. This historical and remarkable day assumes great significance and would be a source of inspiration for future generations to safeguard the democratic, secular and diverse character of the state, they added. While paying rich tributes to the martyrs the AMM leaders appealed all shades of opinion in Kashmir to jointly find ways to take people of out of the present socio-economic and political quagmire and described it a real tribute to the great martyrs. The AMM leaders said restoring faith of the people in democratic ethos and cementing secular and pluralistic character of the state can guarantee transformation of J&K into a welfare state, adding that narrow political considerations should not cloud the true spirit of democracy and secular ethos of Jammu and Kashmir.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 09:19:36 +0000
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