Srinagar, Jul 14: Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should shift his focus on upholding the dignity and fundamental rights of the people after he “tasted the bitter medicine of authoritarian high-handedness”.
He was commenting on the developments earlier in the day which saw the chief minister scaling the gates of the Martyrs Graveyard near Nowhatta after police tried to stop him from paying homage to the 22 people killed by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh on July 13, 1931.
“Power teaches little, Powerlessness teaches more! Today the CM sahab @omarabdullah tasted the bitter medicine of authoritarian high handedness and subsequent helplessness that common Kashmiri’s face everyday in different forms, as all agency and space is denied to them,” the Mirwaiz said in a post on X.
“Hoping this experience shifts his focus to what is the first priority of every people- upholding of their dignity, and their fundamental rights, and work sincerely towards its restoration,” the Mirwaiz added.
A defiant Jammu and Kashmir chief minister on Monday scaled the gates of the Naqshband Sahib graveyard to pay tribute to 22 people killed by the Dogra army in 1931 and alleged that efforts were made to “manhandle” him and his colleagues.
The dramatic scene unfolded a day after Abdullah and several leaders of the National Conference and opposition parties were allegedly put under house arrest to prevent them from going to the graveyard to mark Martyrs’ Day on July 13.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah took an autorickshaw from the Khanyar crossing to the martyrs memorial while Minister for Education Sakina Ittoo surprised everyone by riding pillion on a scooty to the memorial.
Security forces had sealed the roads leading to the martyrs graveyard from both Khanyar and Nowhatta sides in downtown Srinagar.
As soon as Omar Abdullah’s cavalcade reached Khanyar in the old city, he got off his vehicle and walked more than a kilometre to reach the graveyard only to find the gates locked by the authorities.
The chief minister then climbed over the main gate and entered the graveyard premises to offer ‘fateha’. His security men and several other National Conference leaders also did so before the gate was finally thrown open.
