PDP MLA Parra gets notice over ‘breach of privilege’, terms it an attempt to silence Opposition in J&K

The PDP leader questions move to fill Hindu minority quota seats in a medical college; says Kashmiri Muslims are classified as a local majority, though Muslim minorities are not given quotas nationally

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra on Wednesday (November 27, 2024) was served a notice over an alleged breach of privilege in the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session.

According to the notice, National Conference MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan filed a complaint with the Speaker, accusing Mr. Parra of levelling allegations and using derogatory remarks against him during his speech on the Motion of Thanks on the Lieutenant Governor’s address on November 8.

“The PDP MLA has been asked to “furnish his comments in the matter within seven days positively” so that they can be placed before the Speaker before he proceeds on the matter,” officials said.

‘Government wants to scare us’

Mr. Parra, who is the PDP legislative party’s president, described the notice as “an attempt to silence the Opposition in J&K”.

“The NC had promised to give voice to the people in lieu of theirs. But it failed to deliver so far. We moved a resolution against the abrogation of Article 370 and the NC did not allow it to pass in the Assembly. Now, they are not allowing us to speak,” Mr. Parra said. 

He claimed that an NC MLA had made remarks against the PDP’s late patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the Jamaat-e-Islami. “I responded in the Assembly. The government wants to scare us now,” he added.

National minority, local majority

Mr. Parra also questioned the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKPEE) for its move to fill the post-graduate medical seats of the Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences, Jammu, under the Hindu quota. According to a JKPEE notification, 13 post-graduate seats will be filled under Hindu minority quota in the college by December 2.  

“The application of ‘minority’ status in Jammu and Kashmir exposes a blatant double standard that undermines the principles of proportional representation and justice. It perpetuates inequality against the very communities it claims to uplift. In Kashmir, Muslims are classified as a national minority to access school scholarships but are penalised as the local majority when it comes to college admissions and government jobs,” Mr. Parra said.

He pointed out that nowhere else in India was the open merit quota slashed to just 40%, “shutting the majority community out of opportunities they are already denied at the national level.”

‘Calculated discrimination’

“We fully support proportional representation and safeguards for minorities, but why not apply the same logic consistently? If Hindus can be declared minorities in specific States or districts and provided safeguards, why isn’t the same principle extended to Muslims across India? Why is regional demography invoked only when it suits the narrative of denying fairness to Muslims?” he added.

Mr. Parra disputed the narrative touting the abrogation of Article 370 as “a step toward equality for Kashmiris”.

“Instead, it has institutionalised exclusion and double standards. This isn’t equality — it’s calculated discrimination. The government must stop squeezing identity and regional demographics to marginalise communities further. This hypocrisy must end, and true equality must prevail,” the PDP leader said.

Published - November 27, 2024 02:11 pm IST