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Srinagar, Jul 12 (PTI) The Srinagar district magistrate on Saturday rejected the ruling National Conference's plea seeking permission to pay homage to the 22 people "martyred" by the forces of the Dogra king of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, on July 13, 1931.

The party, in an application sent to the district magistrate, stated that NC president Farooq Abdullah and other senior functionaries intend to visit the graveyard of "martyrs" at Naqshband Sahib near Nowhatta on Sunday.

"The District Administration Srinagar has denied permission to all applicants intending to proceed towards Khawaja Bazar, Nowhatta on 13th July 2025 (Sunday)," Srinagar Police said in a public advisory posted on its handle on X.

The police said that the public is advised to comply with these instructions and refrain from violating the orders issued by the district administration.

"Any violation of these orders shall invite strict legal action under relevant provisions of law," the police warned.

Meanwhile, the NC termed the denial of permission "deeply unfortunate." NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said that July 13 is not a routine date. "It is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of dignity, justice, and rights," Sadiq said on X.

Sadiq further said the people of Kashmir will continue to "honour their martyrs" peacefully, with dignity, and with unwavering resolve.

July 13 used to be a public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir before the reorganisation of the erstwhile state into two Union territories in August 2019. However, the administration dropped the day from the list of gazetted holidays in 2020.

On the day, mainstream political leaders used to visit the "martyrs' graveyard" to pay homage to the Kashmiris who fell to the bullets of the Dogra army while protesting against the rule of the Maharaja.

Last year, several leaders were put under house arrest to prevent them from visiting the graveyard.

Meanwhile, J&K Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said opposition PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's charge that the party's resolution on the declaration of holiday on July 13 was not allowed in the House was "misleading and not based on facts".

Mufti, on Thursday, said the speaker's "outright rejection" of the resolution was "unexpected and disappointing". 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)