Thousands of people marched to Martyrs graveyard at Naqashaband Sahib defying Govt orders, to pay tribute to people, who died fighting the Dogra monarchy.
SRINAGAR: Thousands of people on Friday marched towards the Martyrs graveyard at Naqashaband Sahib defying Government orders to pay tribute to the 22 people, who died fighting the Dogra monarchy in 1931.
It was after 1989 that separatists marched towards the graveyard in a procession to mark the Martyrs day in Kashmir. Earlier, the separatists were barred from the ritual on July 13 fearing law and order problem.
Led by Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the people marched towards the graveyard after offering Friday prayers at Jama Masjid. Shouting pro-Pakistan and pro-freedom slogans, the people pulled down the flags, banners and buntings hoisted by the mainstream parties, including the National Conference on the roads.
The people later marched towards the graveyard where Mirwaiz and his supporters offered floral tributes to the martyrs. Mirwaiz used the occasion to hit out at chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for his proposal of relocating the troops from Kashmir.
"We reject relocation or replacement of the troops in Kashmir. We want complete withdrawal of the troops from Jammu and Kashmir," Mirwaiz said.
The Hurriyat chairman criticised the Centre for blaming Pakistan in slowing down the peace process. "There is a lot to be done between Delhi and Srinagar. Government of India is shying away from taking measures on the ground and instead it is blaming Pakistan's internal situation for the slow peace process," he added.
Soon after the function was over, the people clashed with the police at Nowhatta and other adjacent areas. The police was forced to lathicharge and lob tear gas shells to quell the mob.
Mehboob Iqbal, divisional commissioner, Kashmir, said Mirwaiz was allowed to visit the graveyard to pay tributes to the martyrs. "We allowed him because it is a set ritual," he said.
Earlier in the morning, chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad quietly visited the graveyard and paid tributes to the martyrs.
"The people of the state are today masters of their destiny and are enjoying the right to elect their representatives in the state legislature because of the martyrs' sacrifice," he said.
People’s Democratic Party patron and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed separately visited the graveyard and paid his tributes.
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