Omar pays tribute to July 13 Martyrs

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah paid tributes to the Martyrs of July 13.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday paid tributes to the Martyrs of July 13, describing them as "heroes of the struggle against suppression and autocracy".

Omar said sacrifice of the Martyrs to free society from autocracy laid edifice for democracy and human dignity and is one of the richest chapters of Jammu and Kashmir`s history. "The best way to pay homage to the Martyrs is to help create equitable and palatable environment for everyone to grow and nurture in a democratic atmosphere. Let all of us join hands to develop a society based on justice and principles of secular democratic temperament," Omar said in a message on the eve of Martyrs` Day Saturday. Royal soldiers had shot and killed 22 people who were demonstrating against Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir on 13 July, 1931 in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister said, "Tolerance and respect for each others` viewpoints, whether we agree to these or not, is the soul of democracy." "The Martyrs of July 13 laid their lives to uphold this principal of natural justice and democracy," he said and prayed for peace and tranquillity in the state. PTI