MUZAFFARABAD - Jammu & Kashmir people dwelling either side of the line of control and rest of the world will observe Kashmir Martyrs Day today with the renewal of their pledge to continue the ongoing struggle for freedom and the achievement of inborn right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The day reminds of the days - July 13, 1931 and July 19, 1947 - which are the landmarks in the political history of Jammu & Kashmir, as at the first date 22 Kashmiris were martyred at the gate of Central Jail, Srinagar. Thousands of Kashmiris had gathered with a persistent demand to allow them to witness the proceedings of sedition case held in the Central Jail against Abduk Qadeer of Amroha (UP), who had come to Srinagar with a European tourist, had made a violent speech against Dogra ruler of the state in a gathering of 50,000 people. He was arrested on a sedition charge. There was no freedom of speech and press in the state. The tragedy of 22 Muslims killing by Dogra police firing triggered a violent movement that spread in the length and breadth of the state.
Kashmiri leaders Sh Abdullah, Ch Ghulam Abbas, Sardar Gohar Rehman, Naylvi Abdul Rahim, Kh Ghulam Nabi Gilkar, Sardar Gohar Rehman and Shaikh Yaqooob Ali were arrested as the first political prisoners of the state.
The first political organisation - All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference - was formed with Sh Abdullah as its President and Ch Ghulam Abbass as its Secretary General. The Muslim Conference won the majority of Muslims seats in the elections held in 1934, 1936, 1038 and 1939 and Sh Abdullah enamored by Kashmiri born Jawahar Lal Nehru and Congress nationalism converted the Muslim Conference into Nationalism and revived the Muslim Conference in 1941.
The Pakistan Resolution passed on March 23, 1940 boosted up the morale of Ch Ghulam Abbass and his Muslim Conference, who declared their struggle for responsible government in the State as part of Pakistan Movement Muslim Conference. The Conference had to fight simultaneously Dogra Ruler and Sh Abdullah’s National Conference backed India Congress. Both Sh. Abdullah and Ch. Ghulam Abbass with their comrades were in jail when Indias partition plan was announced on 3 June 1947. Kashmiri Muslims were overwhelmed with joyfull perceptions and hopes that the State of Jammu and Kashmir would become part of Pakistan. But the Indian Congress in clandestine collaboration with Lord Mountbatten was playing all games and tactics to block Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. Of all 650 princely States in India Lord Mountbatten chose to visit Srinagar on June 26, 1947. He patted Dogra ruler with obvious ulterior intensions. Acharya Kriplani Congress President also visited Srinagar. Wali Khan also visited Srinagar and persuaded National Conference cadre to side with India.
To culminate the conspiracy India’s Bapu Mahatma Gandhi traveled to Srinagar from Kohala road and stayed there for three days. He went to Sh Abdullah’s House met with his wife and family members and briefed the National workers. Gandhi personally went to the palace of Dogra ruler who bowed before him and licked his knees. Dogra Ruler surrendered before Bapu and the conspiracy was finalised. Sh Abdullah wrote a letter from Bhadrwah jail to one of his Hindu friend in Jammu conveying through him his wish to Dogra Ruler that he should join India. Dr Karan Singh the son of Dogra ruler has quoted his letter in his book ‘Heir Apparent’ to defeat these conspiracies and to project before the World the Muslim Conference General Council in its session held in Srinagar on 19 July 1847 passed a resolution calling upon the Dogra ruler to accede to Pakistan in keeping in line with principles of Indian partition Plan and keeping in view the population of Muslims in Kashmir and centuries old geographical, religious and economic ethnicities of Kashmir with Pakistan. Other the resolution said Muslims would rise in revolt and wage jihad. This jihad was waged by a 23-year vibrant youth Sardar Abdul Qayoom. This jihad is still being waged.