BJP Members Make Controversial Remarks Against Kashmiri Martyrs of 1931 in IIOJK Assembly

July 13 was officially observed as Martyrs’ Day in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) for decades to commemorate the 22 men who were shot dead by Dogra soldiers outside Srinagar Central Jail while protesting against the autocratic rule of Maharaja Hari Singh. Their deaths marked a significant moment in IIOJK’s political struggle and were widely seen as the beginning of the region’s resistance movement.

Twenty-eight BJP members sparked controversy on Wednesday by making derogatory remarks against the July 13, 1931, Kashmiri martyrs during a heated session of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Assembly.

The remarks were made by BJP’s Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, in response to a speech by PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para. Para had called for the restoration of the public holiday on July 13, which was previously observed to honor the 22 Kashmiri martyrs who were killed by the Dogra regime’s forces in 1931.

Sharma’s remarks were met with immediate backlash from opposition members. CPI-M leader M.Y. Tarigami and Congress leader Nizamuddin Butt strongly condemned the statements and demanded that they be expunged from the assembly’s records. They also insisted that Sharma issue a formal apology for his comments.

Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, in his speech, emphasized that the removal of the July 13 holiday was part of a broader effort to erase IIOJK’s history and suppress its identity. He stated that the martyrs of 1931 were not just individuals but symbols of resistance against oppression, and their sacrifice should be recognized and honored.

July 13 was officially observed as Martyrs’ Day in IIOJK for decades to commemorate the 22 men who were shot dead by Dogra soldiers outside Srinagar Central Jail while protesting against the autocratic rule of Maharaja Hari Singh. Their deaths marked a significant moment in IIOJK’s political struggle and were widely seen as the beginning of the region’s resistance movement.

However, in 2019, after the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of IIOJK into two union territories, the BJP-led administration scrapped the public holiday. Along with it, December 5, which marked the birth anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah, was also removed from the official holiday list.

The move to abolish these holidays was widely criticized by political and civil society groups, who viewed it as an attempt to undermine Kashmir’s historical and political legacy. The latest remarks by BJP members in the assembly have further fueled tensions, with opposition parties accusing the ruling party of disrespecting Kashmiri sentiments.

Political observers note that such statements reflect a broader trend of marginalization and historical revisionism under the BJP’s governance in IIOJK. Many believe that efforts to delegitimize the memory of the 1931 martyrs are part of a larger strategy to reshape the region’s political and cultural landscape.

Despite repeated demands from opposition lawmakers, the assembly session concluded without an apology from Sunil Sharma or any official action to expunge the remarks. The incident has sparked outrage among Kashmiri political and social groups, who continue to demand justice and recognition for the sacrifices made in 1931.