Centre’s Contempt For Federalism Is Evident From Treatment By Police Of J&K Chief Minister

One day after the “locking down” of the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah, his cabinet ministers, his party National Conference legislators, along with leader from the PDP, People’s Conference, and J&K Apni Party in their homes to prevent them from paying homage to Martyrs of July 13, 1931 on that day, yet another serious incident took place that amounts to attack on democracy. The chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir was manhandled by Central security forces when he, along with others went to pay homage to martyrs at Naqshband Sahib graveyard in the Old City of Srinagar.

The martyrs’ graveyard was heavily barricaded by the Central security forces. Nevertheless, in a defiant step, leaders of the national conference paid floor tribute at the martyrs’ graveyard. CM Omar Abdullah jumped a barricade, scaled the wall, and entered graveyard, followed by other leaders of his party. The graveyard contains dead bodies of 22 Kashmiris who were killed on July 13, 1931.

“These people think that we are their slaves. We are not their slaves; we are the servants of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar told reporters at the site, adding that attempts were made to block their movement. “Which law allows them to stop elected representatives from paying tribute to martyrs? Is this democracy or dictatorship?” he questioned, asserting “they tried to physically grapple me but I was not going to be stopped.” National Conference later posted on X, “No restrictions can silence us; our democratic rights will prevail. We forever honour the July 13, 1931, martyrs who rose against tyranny.”Omar has also remarked, “Unelected nominees of New Delhi locked up the elected representatives of the people of J&K.”

The question is why the Centre has denied permission to the people of Kashmir to pay homage to their martyrs? Until 2019, July 13 was officially observed as Martyrs’ Day in Jammu and Kashmir in memory of the 22 civilians killed by Dogra forces under Maharaja Hari Singh’s rule in 1931. It was also a holiday in the state.

PM Narendra Modi led government at the Centre had abrogated the Article 370 in August 2019, annulled its special status, ended its statehood, and split it into two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Subsequently, the UT was put under administration of Lieutenant Governor, who in 2020, removed the Martyrs’ Day from the list of gazetted holidays.

Elections to the Assembly of the UT was held in September-October 2024, which was won by the INDIA bloc led by National Conference. Omar Abdullah became chief minister, but the state practically remains under the Central administration under Lieutenant Governor. Administration had denied permission to all political parties to visit the graveyard or hold gatherings there, citing security concerns.

Nevertheless, the real concern is the fear of the Centre that giving permission may strengthened the movement of the Kashmiris who are still demanding for restoration of statehood and special status of the state as it existed before abrogation of Article 370, and also restoration of the Article 370 of the Constitution of India which gave it the special status.

The administration had denied permission for the Martyrs’ Day function and warned of strict action against anyone who tried to proceed towards the Martyrs’ Graveyard. Condemning this, Mr Abdullah said, “13th July massacre is our Jallianwala Bagh. The people who laid down their lives did so against the British. Kashmir was being ruled under the British Paramountcy. What a shame that true heroes who fought against British rule in all its forms are today projected as villains only because they were Muslims. We may be denied the opportunity to visit their graves today, but we will not forget their sacrifices.”

The action of the Central administration against an elected chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir has been generally criticized by leaders and people across the country.

Opposing the ‘house arrest’ of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday contended that the Union government led by BJP was systematically stripping away the rights of elected State governments. He wrote in a social media post, “At a time when there is a growing demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood, the current events unfolding there are a grim reminder of how far things have deteriorated.”

It was not just about one State or one leader, Mr. Stalin said, “From Tamil Nadu to Kashmir, the Union BJP Government is systematically stripping away the rights of elected State governments.”If this could happen in Kashmir “it can happen anywhere, to any elected representative of the people. Every democratic voice must unequivocally condemn this.”

Expressing shock, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said that what happened to J&K chief minister is unacceptable.“What is wrong in visiting the graveyard of martyrs? This is not only unfortunate, it also snatches the democratic right of a citizen. What happened this morning to an elected chief minister is unacceptable. Shocking. Shameful,” she wrote on social media post.

PDP has said, “When the elected CM, in manhandled by police, it’s not just an insult to one individual, it’s brutal assault on the very ideal of democracy in J&K. This wasn’t a push, it was a deliberate humiliation of an elected government. The self-respect of the CM, his cabinet, and the mandate of the people has been crushed under the boots of a police state, acting on orders from those who treat J&K like a colony, not a constitutional unit.”

RJD leader Tejashvi Yadav said, “The manner in which the elected CM was ill-treated and manhandled, is an utterly deplorable act and is a blot on Indian democracy. The BJP should remember that they have been outrightly rejected by the people of J&K. They should desist from ruling the state and dictating the elected government through backdoor.”

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “If you keep imposing restrictions on every matter like this, then when the regime changes, tell me yourself, which border will you cross to escape?”

CPI leader D Raja condemned Abdullah’s detention as insulting. And the J&K Congress called it a “chilling reminder of how far we’ve drifted from democratic values”.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, “It is reprehensible that the unelected police and unelected administration of Delhi are trying to control an elected Chief Minister. Elected leaders are being put under house arrest… The LG of J&K has accepted that he is taking responsibility for the Pahalgam attack… If he is taking responsibility to save Delhi, to become its shield, then resign… .” (IPA Service)