Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has alleged that he was “locked up” inside his house soon after he returned from Delhi this evening.
The House Arrest Controversy
Describing his house “detention” as the tyranny of the unelected in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister shared pictures of a large police contingent outside his home and an armored vehicle parked at the main gate.
“To borrow from the late Arun Jaitley – Democracy in J&K is a tyranny of the unelected. To put it in terms you will all understand today, the unelected nominees of New Delhi locked up the elected representatives of the people of J&K,” Mr. Abdullah expressed in a social media post.
Reactions and Responses
Without directly mentioning the Lt Governor’s administration, Mr. Abdullah stated, “The unelected government locked up the elected government.”
Earlier in the day, several ministers, MLAs, and party leaders were put under house arrest to prevent observance of Kashmir Martyrs’ Day.
The administration of the Lieutenant Governor disallowed the ‘Martyrs Day’ function, commemorating those who fought against the autocratic rule of Maharaja Hari Singh under British suzerainty.
Political Figures Speak Out
Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and other leaders woke up to house detention and restrictions in Srinagar.
Omar Abdullah compared the 1931 martyrs of Kashmir to those of “Jallianwala Bagh” and strongly condemned the restrictions.
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti called for embracing each other’s heroes to end the distance between hearts.
Sajad Lone of the People’s Conference criticized the imposition of house arrest and emphasized the sacredness of the sacrifices made on July 13.
The Significance of July 13
July 13 marks a significant day in Kashmir’s history, when protesters outside Srinagar jail were met with violence in 1931.
The killings on July 13 sparked widespread protests, leading to political changes in Jammu and Kashmir, symbolizing the beginning of democratic processes in the region.
Current Status
Since 2019, after the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, commemorations at the Martyrs’ graveyard have been prohibited.
Historical holidays in the region have been altered, causing controversy and raising questions about the preservation of local history and culture.
