MLA Waheed Para put under notice for his remarks on MLA Mehraj Malik’s detention under PSA

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 12 (STC): Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Waheed-ur-Rehman Para has been put under show cause notice by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Secretariat for “casting aspersions on the impartiality of the Speaker’s office and undermining the dignity of the Assembly as an institution.”
He had reacted on social media over the detention of Doda MLA Mehraj Din Malik, under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
It’s pertinent to mention that Waheed Para in a post on his X handle had stated: “Shameful surrender. Assembly Secretariat endorsing PSA against an elected MLA is a direct assault on democracy. J&K CM @OmarAbdullah 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.”
Meanwhile, the show cause notice directs MLA Waheed Para “to explain his position within seven days, either in person or in writing, failing which breach of privilege and contempt proceedings will be initiated against him.”
Notably, in accordance with Rule 260 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, the Assembly Secretariat had published a bulletin notifying members of the House about Malik’s detention after being informed by the Doda District Magistrate Harvinder Singh, IAS, on September 8, about it.
The Assembly Secretariat states that Para’s statement wrongly suggested that the Assembly Secretariat had “endorsed” the PSA detention of Malik. The bulletin was only issued in compliance with procedural rules, the Secretariat said and adds that it had “no role in the arrest or detention of the Hon’ble Member.”
(Straight Talk Communications)