Srinagar, Jul 13: Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday asserted that the July 13 martyrs had fought for democracy and against British and princely rule, condemning the authorities’ decision to prevent National Conference leaders from visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard and saying the restrictions could not erase their legacy.

Describing the restrictions as “deeply unfortunate”, Abdullah said those who laid down their lives on July 13 had sacrificed themselves in the struggle against oppression and for democratic rights.

“Those who sacrificed their lives on July 13 fought against British rule, princely rule and for democracy. Today we are not being allowed to pay tribute to their sacrifice.”

Abdullah said those who ordered the closure of the Martyrs’ Graveyard had ignored the historical context of Jammu and Kashmir.

“If those who took the decision to close the Martyrs’ Graveyard had spent even two minutes reading the history of Jammu and Kashmir, they would have understood that by doing so they have ignored the sacrifices of all those who laid down their lives fighting against the British before Independence.”

He said Jammu and Kashmir had been a princely state under British paramountcy, adding that the Maharaja had accepted British authority. Pointing to the former British Resident’s buildings in Srinagar and Jammu and the existence of Residency Road in both cities, Abdullah said these were reminders of the British presence in the erstwhile state.

The Chief Minister rejected attempts to portray the July 13 movement through a religious lens. “This fight is being measured only in terms of religion. The sacrifices of these martyrs are being ignored only because they were Muslims and the Maharaja was not. But this was not a religious struggle. It was a struggle of principles. It was a struggle for democracy. Above all, it was a struggle for freedom against the British.”

Abdullah said political dispensations may change, but the memory of the martyrs would endure. “Those who have not allowed us to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard today are here only for a few days. They are here today; tomorrow they will not be. But these martyrs’ graves were here, they are here, and they will remain here. Today or tomorrow, we will go there again, lay flowers and offer prayers for the martyrs.”

Responding to a question on whether the restrictions had embarrassed the National Conference, Abdullah said the curbs instead undermined official claims that normalcy had returned to Jammu and Kashmir.

“We were not discredited by this. This discredits the people who take this decision. It actually calls into question all the claims that are being made about normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Referring to security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, he said the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway itself reflected the prevailing security situation. “I don’t remember a time when, to conduct the Amarnath Yatra, we had to close the National Highway. But this year the National Highway is closed so that yatris can travel safely. What does that tell you about the security situation?”

He said only a small number of people had intended to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard. “We don’t go there in lakhs, perhaps not even in thousands. I would say not more than 150 people would have gone there had we been allowed. If they feel threatened even by 150 people visiting the graveyard, that discredits them, not us.”

Calls BJP notice a ‘love letter’

Responding to questions on the BJP’s legal notice over his recent allegations of attempts to poach MLAs, Abdullah clarified that he had not received any court summons.
“I have received a letter from a lawyer, not a physical copy. I have received an electronic copy of the letter.”

In a sarcastic remark, he added: “I consider this a great honour because I am the only politician in Jammu and Kashmir who has been bestowed with a love letter like this from the BJP.”

He accused the BJP of preferring litigation over political debate. “I made the point on a political stage expecting that the BJP would respond politically. They have chosen not to. They take political fights and hide behind the courts.”

Abdullah said the National Conference would now begin issuing legal notices to BJP leaders whom he accused of making defamatory allegations against the party and its leadership.

Srinagar, July 13: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday termed the legal notice served on him by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a “mark of respect,” alleging that the party was “hiding behind courts” instead of responding politically.

He also announced that the National Conference (NC) would initiate legal proceedings against BJP leaders over what he described as defamatory and baseless allegations against the party and its leadership.

Speaking to reporters at the National Conference headquarters, Nawa-i-Subh, Omar said the legal notice reflected that he remained “a political force they cannot ignore.”

“I have received an electronic copy of the legal notice. I consider it a great honour because I am probably the only politician in Jammu and Kashmir who has received such a love letter from the BJP. I consider it a mark of respect because it tells me that I am a political force they cannot ignore,” he said.

The Chief Minister said he had intentionally made his remarks on a political platform expecting a political response from the BJP, but alleged that the party had instead chosen to pursue the matter through the courts.

“I could have made the same statement inside the Assembly under privilege, where it could not have been challenged outside. But I didn’t. I made the point on a political stage expecting the BJP to respond politically. They have chosen not to. They take political fights and hide behind the courts. They would rather settle political scores in court,” Omar said.

He said the National Conference would now adopt the same legal course against BJP leaders who, he alleged, had repeatedly levelled unfounded allegations against the party.

“For the last few months, senior BJP leaders have levelled baseless and slanderous allegations against the National Conference and its leadership. We have been fighting them politically. From now on, we will begin the process of sending legal notices to one particular BJP leader and a few others. Let us see where this process goes,” he said.

Referring to the proposed National Conference protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Omar said the party was awaiting permission from the Delhi Police.

“We have been informed that permission usually takes five days. We are following it up and expect to hear from Delhi Police by tomorrow or Wednesday morning,” he said.

Commenting on the restrictions imposed on July 13, the Chief Minister said preventing him and other NC leaders from paying tributes at the Martyrs’ Graveyard exposed the gap between official claims of normalcy and the prevailing ground situation.

“It is a very sad thing that those people who, on July 13, sacrificed their precious lives against British rule, against personal rule and for democracy are being remembered in this manner. We were not discredited by not being allowed to visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard. Those who took this decision have discredited themselves. On one hand, we are told everything is normal in Jammu and Kashmir, but on the ground nothing appears normal,” he said.

Questioning the security situation, Omar referred to the arrangements made for the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, saying he did not recall the National Highway being closed for the pilgrimage in previous years.

“I don’t remember a time when the National Highway had to be closed for the Amarnath Yatra. This year it has been closed so that yatris can travel safely. What does that tell you about the security situation? It shows how uncertain they are about the calm that prevails,” he said.

He added that the administration had prevented even a small group of NC leaders from visiting the Martyrs’ Graveyard.

“We were not talking about lakhs of people or even thousands. We would not have gone there with more than 100 or 150 people. If they feel threatened even by such a small gathering, that discredits them, not us,” Omar said. —(KNO)

Anantnag, July 13: Anantnag Police have arrested a person for his alleged involvement in gold coin scam, officials said on Monday.

The officials said that the accused, identified as Sajad Ahmad Beigh, son of Lassa Beigh, resident of Draway, Larnoo, has been arrested in connection with FIR No. 27/2026 of Police Station Larnoo registered under Sections 318(4), 351(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

“The case was registered following a complaint by a Srinagar resident who alleged that the accused, along with his associates, fraudulently induced him to part with ₹12 lakh on the false promise of supplying gold coins at discounted rates. As part of the conspiracy, the complainant was allegedly intercepted at a naka during the planned transaction, where the purported gold coins were taken away, leaving him cheated,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.

During investigation, the spokesperson said, Anantnag Police collected substantial oral and technical evidence establishing the involvement of the accused and his associates. The anticipatory bail granted to the accused was successfully challenged and cancelled by the Hon’ble Court, following which he was arrested.

“Further investigation is underway to apprehend the remaining absconding accused and uncover the entire criminal conspiracy,” the statement said.

Anantnag Police advised the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to fraudulent schemes or false representations while entering into financial transactions.

Jammu, Jul 13: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP on Monday served a legal notice to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his claim that the national party had attempted to bribe National Conference legislators with cash and ministerial berths in a bid to topple his government.

Calling the allegations “false, baseless and defamatory”, the BJP has demanded a written retraction, an unconditional public apology within seven days, and warned of civil and criminal proceedings if the demands are not met.

The chief minister, while addressing National Conference (NC) workers at Hazratbal last week, alleged that the BJP is trying to bring down his government by engineering a split in his party. He also claimed that an NC MLA from Jammu told him that he was offered Rs 20-30 crore and a ministerial berth to switch sides to the saffron camp.

The notice has been issued through advocate Parimoksh Seth on the instructions of BJP J-K president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Paul Sharma. It contends that the chief minister’s statements have caused serious damage to the reputation and public standing of the BJP and its office-bearers.

A BJP spokesperson informed that the party has sent the notice to the chief minister.

According to the three-page notice, Abdullah alleged that BJP functionaries had approached certain National Conference MLAs from the Jammu region with offers of Rs 20–30 crore, ministerial berths and restoration of statehood in an attempt to persuade them to switch allegiance to the BJP.

It refers to the chief minister’s allegation that a senior BJP office-bearer, who is also a lawyer practising in the Supreme Court, allegedly played a role in offering the inducements.

Rejecting the allegations, the BJP has described them as “entirely untrue, malicious and without any factual basis.”

The notice states that the allegations were deliberately made to tarnish the party’s image and have been widely circulated, thereby causing substantial reputational harm.

The legal notice asserts that the allegations amount to defamation under both civil and criminal law and calls upon the chief minister to withdraw his charges in writing.

“Issue an unconditional public apology within seven days of receiving the notice. Refrain from publishing or circulating any further defamatory material concerning the BJP. Immediately cease and desist from making or repeating any such statements,” it said.

The BJP has warned that if the demands are not complied with within the stipulated period, it will initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings before a competent court. These would include a defamation suit seeking damages of Rs 100 crore, apart from other legal remedies available under the law.

Srinagar, Jul 13: Minister for School Education, Health & Medical Education, and Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo, on Monday said she tried to pay her humble tributes to the martyrs of July 13 at 4:30 am, but was prevented from visiting the Mazar-e-Shuhada due to the heavy deployment of security forces.

“I tried to visit the Mazar-e-Shuhada at 4:30 AM today to pay my humble tributes to our martyrs of 13th July. However, due to the heavy deployment of security forces and extensive barbed-wire barricading around the graves, I was prevented from entering,” Itoo said.

Itoo said that physical barriers cannot prevent people from honouring the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs. “We will continue to pay our tributes with dignity and unwavering respect.

“Their memory, courage, and legacy will forever remain alive in our hearts,” she said.

Sakina was accompanied by JKNC Women’s Wing Provincial President Er. Sabiya Qadri.

A siege of concertina wires, plastic barricades, GI sheets and poles has been laid near Nowhatta to prevent access to the graveyard today.

Sources in the establishment said the restrictions have been imposed in the city to prevent a repeat of last year’s incident, when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah scaled a fence to offer tributes after police locked the gates.

I tried to visit the Mazar-e-Shuhada at 4:30 AM today to pay my humble tributes to our martyrs of 13th July. However, due to the heavy deployment of security forces and extensive barbed-wire barricading around the graves, I was prevented from entering. I was accompanied by the… pic.twitter.com/8ca75MSHRX

— Sakina Itoo (@sakinaitoo) July 12, 2026