BJP took U-turn over July 13 issue: JKNPP

The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) today held a protest against the state government for observing July 13 as Martyrs' Day and accused BJP of taking a "U-turn" over the issue.
"The BJP which is now part of the coalition government has taken a U Turn on its stand on the observance of July 13 as martyrs' day. The saffron party that used to observe this day as black day now is mum as it shares power in the state," JKNPP chairman Harsh Dev Singh told reporters here.
Yesterday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed attended the Martyrs' Day function here, from which its coalition partner in the state BJP kept away.

Singh also said that the people who had revolted against the Maharaja and were killed on July 13, 1931 were not martyrs but the people who had fueled a revolt against the then ruler of the state.
July 13 is observed as Martyrs' Day to mark the death of 21 protesters in firing by Dogra Army outside Srinagar Central Jail in 1931. The day is observed as an official holiday in the state every year.
He alleged that while the state government has ignored the "genuine martyrs" of the state who laid there life for protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the country were being ignored, the ones who rebelled were being remembered and honored.

"There are many martyrs in the state who laid their lives while fighting the militancy in the state, but the state government has not only ignored them but insulted them by observing July 13 as martyrs day," Singh said.