West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Slams Curbs on Omar’s Visit to Martyrs’ Graveyard

SRINAGAR: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the Jammu and Kashmir administration for allegedly preventing Omar Abdullah from offering prayers at the Mazar-e-Shuhada in Srinagar.

What is wrong in visiting the graveyard of martyrs? This is not only unfortunate, it also snatches the democratic right of a citizen. What happened this morning to an elected Chief Minister @OmarAbdullah is unacceptable. Shocking. Shameful.

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 14, 2025

Taking to the social media platform X, she wrote,
”What is wrong in visiting the graveyard of martyrs? This is not only unfortunate, it also snatches the democratic right of a citizen. What happened this morning to an elected Chief Minister @OmarAbdullah is unacceptable. Shocking. Shameful.”

Her statement came hours after CM Omar Abdullah posted videos showing himself being stopped by police near Naqashband Sahib shrine, where the martyrs of July 13, 1931 are buried.

In a video shared on X, Omar wrote,
”Paid my respects & offered Fatiha at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931. The unelected government tried to block my way, forcing me to walk from Nawhatta Chowk. They blocked the gate to Naqashband Sb shrine, forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me, but I was not going to be stopped today.”

Paid my respects & offered Fatiha at the graves of the martyrs of 13th July 1931. The unelected government tried to block my way forcing me to walk from Nawhatta chowk. They blocked the gate to Naqshband Sb shrine forcing me to scale a wall. They tried to physically grapple me… pic.twitter.com/IS6rOSwoN4

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 14, 2025

A follow-up video showed the scuffle. In the caption, Omar added, “This is the physical grappling I was subjected to, but I am made of sterner stuff & was not to be stopped. I was doing nothing unlawful or illegal. In fact, these ‘protectors of the law’ need to explain under what law they were trying to stop us from offering Fatiha.”

This is the physical grappling I was subjected to but I am made of sterner stuff & was not to be stopped. I was doing nothing unlawful or illegal. In fact these “protectors of the law” need to explain under what law they were trying to stop us from offering Fatiha pic.twitter.com/8Fj1BKNixQ

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 14, 2025

The incident took place a day after authorities had imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar, effectively preventing political leaders from gathering at the historic Mazar-e-Shuhada on the anniversary of the 1931 uprising, a watershed in Kashmir’s political history.

Earlier, Omar, accompanied by senior National Conference leaders, managed to reach the Naqashband Sahib shrine, where he offered prayers for the martyrs.