Srinagar A political storm erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday after Leader of Opposition (LOP) and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma referred to the July 13 martyrs as “traitors,” triggering widespread condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum.
As per news agency JKNS, PDP leader and MLA Waheed Parra, while speaking in the Assembly, demanded the restoration of public holidays on July 31 and December 5 and called for the transfer of Kashmiri youth detained outside J&K to local jails.
However, Sharma immediately stood up in objection, declaring, “They were not martyrs but traitors.” His remarks sparked an uproar, with leaders from the Treasury Benches and opposition parties from Kashmir strongly protesting and demanding that the statement be expunged from the Assembly records.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Leaders from various parties, including NC’s Salman Sagar, CPIM’s Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami, NC’s Hilal Akbar Lone, AIP’s Sheikh Khursheed, Congress J&K chief Tariq Hameed Karra and PDP’s Iltija Mufti, condemned Sharma’s remarks, calling them an insult to the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, as per JKNS, wrote on X: “Strongly condemn the outrageous remarks by a BJP member in the Assembly regarding the martyrs of July 13, 1931, who were killed in cold blood for standing up for the rights and dignity of the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir. These martyrs are part of our collective memory, and any attempt to malign them will be firmly resisted.”
Congress J&K chief Tariq Hameed Karra, speaking to JKNS, criticized Sharma’s language, stating, “Every party has the right to express its ideology, but the choice of words must be responsible and respectful.”
MLA Salman Sagar also condemned Sharma’s remarks, saying, “The martyrs of July 13 are our honor, and I strongly denounce the statement made by the BJP MLA on the floor of the House.”
PDP leader Iltija Mufti, in her post on X, said, “Strongly condemn Sunil Sharma’s odious and disgraceful remarks dubbing Kashmir’s martyrs as arsonists. These valiant men sacrificed their lives for democracy. BJP’s efforts to erase the history and memories of our heroes won’t be tolerated.”
MLA Kulgam Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami, speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, said, “Insulting and distorting history in front of us is unacceptable. Certain BJP MLAs attempted to disrupt the House proceedings, which were otherwise running smoothly. For us, July 13 is a sacred and significant day.”
MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat, speaking in the Assembly, called the remarks “humiliating and divisive” and demanded they be withdrawn or removed from the records.
People’s Conference leader and MLA Sajad Gani Lone urged the Assembly to pass a resolution restoring public holidays on Martyrs’ Day and the birth anniversary of NC founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.
As protests escalated, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather announced that Sharma’s remarks had been expunged from the official records of the House.
In response, all BJP MLAs staged a walkout in protest against the Speaker’s decision.
It is important to note that PDP leader Waheed Parra had earlier raised the demand for restoring holidays on July 31 and December 5 and sought the transfer of Kashmiri detainees from outside J&K to local jails. (JKNS)
