Mon Jul 14 11:07:20 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defied a ban by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration to pay tribute at the “Martyrs Graveyard” in Srinagar, commemorating civilians killed in 1931. Security forces attempted to block Abdullah, leading him to scale a wall to reach the site. The move has sparked condemnation from other political figures like Mamata Banerjee, while drawing criticism and skepticism from within Kashmir itself. It highlights the ongoing tensions between regional political aspirations and the central government’s administration in the region.
**News Article:**
**J&K Chief Minister Defies Ban, Pays Tribute at ‘Martyrs Graveyard’, Sparks Political Row**
**Srinagar, July 14, 2025** – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with senior leaders of the National Conference (NC), today defied a ban imposed by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration to pay tribute at the “Martyrs Graveyard” in Srinagar. The graveyard commemorates 22 civilians killed in 1931 during an uprising against the Dogra ruler.
Security forces attempted to prevent Abdullah and his delegation from accessing the site, prompting the Chief Minister to scale a wall to reach the Naqsbandh Sahib shrine. A police officer reportedly tried to stop him from offering prayers.
“I was pushed, shoved, and grappled by ‘protectors of the law’,” Abdullah stated on social media. “My crime? Wanting to offer Fatiha at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931.”
The L-G administration had barred government and regional parties from paying tributes at the site, with the BJP previously describing the deceased civilians as “rioters.” The administration removed July 13th from the official holiday calendar in 2019 after the revocation of J&K’s special status.
The move has drawn strong reactions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the actions as a violation of democratic rights. “What happened this morning to an elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is unacceptable. Shocking. Shameful,” Banerjee tweeted.
However, the move also faced skepticism within Kashmir. Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq offered a sarcastic statement, suggesting Abdullah was experiencing the same “authoritarian high-handedness” faced by ordinary Kashmiris. J&K Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone alleged the entire event was “scripted.”
NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq expressed outrage, stating that an elected government was being “locked up” by an unelected administration. He questioned the lack of condemnation from Delhi and raised concerns about the perceived disconnect between decision-makers and the realities on the ground in J&K.
The incident underscores the ongoing tensions between regional political aspirations and the administration of Jammu and Kashmir following the removal of its special status in 2019.
First Piper 