PDP’s Waheed Para says democratic institutions being eroded, cites Mehraj Malik’s detention

Srinagar, Oct 27: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Parra on Monday voiced deep concern over what he termed as the erosion of democratic institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the role and dignity of elected representatives were being undermined.

Speaking during the ongoing session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Parra referred to the detention of Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA) as a worrying sign. “The institution of MLAs is being eroded,” he said, calling the detention of an elected representative “a dangerous precedent for democracy.”

Without naming the government directly, Parra suggested that silencing political voices and elected members weakens the essence of representation. “When an MLA can be detained under a preventive law, it sends a disturbing message about how far democratic space has shrunk,” he remarked.

Turning to the issue of reservations, Parra clarified that the PDP was not opposed to the principle but questioned the uneven implementation and its impact on ground realities. “We are not against reservation, but Kashmir has seen everything,” he said, adding that the same youth who once engaged in protests or militancy had now embraced the democratic process by voting, yet “there is no visible progress or change on the ground.” [KNT]