Waheed Para Writes to J&K Speaker, Flags Procedural Lapses in Admitting Multiple Statehood Resolutions

Jammu, 7th April: In a significant political development, Waheed Ur Rehman Para, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) leader in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, has raised serious procedural and constitutional concerns regarding the selection of private members’ resolutions set to be discussed during the concluding phase of the ongoing budget session. In a detailed letter addressed to Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, Para questioned the inclusion of three identical resolutions seeking the restoration of statehood and demanded the reinstatement of his Martyrs’ Day resolution, which calls for a public holiday on July 13 in memory of the 1931 martyrs.

Highlighting the symbolic and historic significance of the Martyrs’ Day resolution, Para expressed disappointment over its omission from the official bulletin. He acknowledged the existence of a ballot process for private members’ resolutions but urged the Speaker to go beyond procedural rigidity in matters that carry substantial democratic and emotional weight for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Democracy must not be held hostage to technicalities, especially when the majority of members have already expressed support for this resolution,” Para wrote.

Martyrs’ Day, which commemorates the killing of 22 Kashmiri protestors by the Dogra regime outside Srinagar Central Jail on July 13, 1931, had been a longstanding public holiday in J&K. However, it was unilaterally removed by the lieutenant governor-led administration following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 and the subsequent bifurcation of the state.

Para also called for an explanation on what he deemed a violation of Rule 58 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, which restricts the repetition of resolutions on substantially the same subject within a one-year timeframe. “The Assembly passed a resolution on November 6, 2024, seeking restoration of special status. Allowing three resolutions on statehood, which is inherently tied to special status, within the one-year window violates established rules,” he stated.

According to a bulletin issued on March 26, 14 private members’ resolutions, including three focused on statehood restoration, will be tabled for discussion on April 7 and April 9. Para warned that introducing multiple, nearly identical resolutions on a single issue not only breaches procedural decorum but also weakens the gravity of earlier passed resolutions. “Is this an intentional attempt to dilute the discourse on Articles 370 and 35A and shift focus to a less comprehensive demand?” he asked.

The PDP leader further criticized the inclusion of what he termed “redundant” or “hollow” resolutions, including one on general healthcare provisions, alleging that such entries undermine the legislative purpose of building consensus on critical matters. He questioned whether the Assembly was being flooded with less impactful resolutions to divert attention from more substantial political issues.

Citing a precedent where a special status resolution was introduced in November 2024 despite being absent from the order of business, Para urged the Speaker to use his discretionary powers to rectify the current situation. “The business rules empower you to intervene where legislative intent and democratic integrity are at stake,” he wrote.

Concluding his letter, Para underscored the need for transparency and strict adherence to both democratic values and procedural consistency. “The exclusion of the Martyrs’ Day resolution and the procedural irregularities in admitting statehood resolutions must be clarified to uphold the legitimacy of this House,” he emphasized.

The budget session, which began on March 3, marks the first full Assembly session since the 2019 reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir. With tensions mounting and key political questions resurfacing, the concluding phase from April 7 to 9 is expected to witness intense debates and renewed demands for the restoration of J&K’s erstwhile constitutional status.