The National Conference (NC) has decided to observe July 13 as Martyrs' Day, honoring the Kashmiris who were killed in 1931 by Dogra soldiers. This day is observed to commemorate those who lost their lives in a rebellion against Dogra rule.

The NC held a meeting in Srinagar to review the arrangements for the annual observance of Martyrs' Day on July 13, as well as the death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah on July 11. Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, the General Secretary of the party, chaired the meeting and emphasized the importance of solemn commemorations. He directed party members to ensure a special prayer ceremony is held at the Naqsband Sahib graveyard, where 22 locals who died in the 1931 rebellion are buried. Logistical arrangements and event schedules were finalized to ensure the smooth observance of both occasions.

July 13 is a contested event in Kashmir's history. Many regard it as the start of political consciousness, while others question its place in history. Until 2019, July 13 was a state holiday in Jammu and Kashmir, with official ceremonies held at the Martyrs' Graveyard in Srinagar. However, after the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, the government removed Martyrs' Day from the official holiday calendar. This decision has been criticized by opposition parties like the PDP, NC, and CPI(M), who view it as an erasure of Kashmiri history and identity.

Despite the removal of the holiday, there has been a growing demand from regional parties to reincorporate July 13 into the holiday calendar of Jammu and Kashmir. The NC has advocated for its inclusion but has been unsuccessful due to the special powers granted to the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) in the Union Territory (UT). J&K Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari has also urged the NC-led government to declare July 13 as a public holiday across Jammu and Kashmir, calling it unjust that the day is not officially recognized.

The BJP's Sunil Sharma referred to the 1931 martyrs as "traitors," causing an uproar among the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, CPI (M), and Peoples Conference legislators, who demanded an apology and the removal of Sharma's remark from the Assembly records. This incident highlights the ongoing struggle for a historical narrative in Kashmir.

The NC president, Farooq Abdullah, has said that July 13 is a day of assertion of Jammu and Kashmir's identity and the rights of its people, marking a shift from stoicism to dynamism. The PDP has also paid tribute to the martyrs, stating that their role in Jammu and Kashmir's freedom struggle cannot be undone or forgotten.