PDP MLA Waheed Para Urges Speaker to Defend Legislators After Show-Cause Notice
Srinagar, Sept 12: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para on Friday urged the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to stand firmly in defence of elected representatives, asserting that safeguarding the dignity of legislators was crucial to preserving the democratic institution itself. His comments followed a show-cause notice served on him by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather over a social media post in which Para alleged that the Assembly Secretariat had endorsed the detention of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
Para, who represents Pulwama, said the controversy was not about an individual but about the sanctity of the Assembly, which he described as “the last space left to represent the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.” He stressed that the Speaker’s office, as custodian of the House, carried a responsibility to shield members rather than reprimand them for raising concerns. “If the Speaker’s office doesn’t defend an elected member, it sets a dangerous precedent. Instead of faulting my concern, the Speaker should have supported it,” he remarked.
Despite the notice, Para maintained a respectful tone towards Abdul Rahim Rather, calling him a “fatherly figure” and recalling how he had admired the Speaker’s conduct during Assembly sessions. “I learnt a lot from the way he conducted the House, upheld diversity and accommodated voices. But as custodian, actions to protect legislators are equally important,” Para said.
The show-cause notice, issued earlier this week, directed Para to explain why proceedings for breach of privilege or contempt should not be initiated against him. The notice cited his post on X, where he had written, “Shameful surrender. The Assembly Secretariat endorsing PSA against an elected MLA is a direct assault on democracy. J&K CM Omar Abdullah must act, don’t allow the institution of MLA, the last agency of the people, to be silenced. Today it’s Mehraj, tomorrow it could be you.”
The Speaker has asked Para to present his explanation either in person or in writing within seven days, rejecting the claim as “false.” Malik, the MLA from Doda, was detained earlier this week under the PSA, sparking protests from his party and criticism from several opposition voices.
Para said that while he respects the authority of the Speaker and the traditions of the Assembly, he believed the larger duty of the office was to safeguard democratic values. “This is not about me, or Malik, or any one legislator. It is about protecting the very idea of representation. Once legislators themselves feel unprotected, the people’s faith in the institution will erode,” he cautioned.
