Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR Sept 9: Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather today dismissed allegations by MLA Waheed Parra that the Assembly had endorsed the detention of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), calling the claims “completely wrong” and “misleading.”
Click here to watch video
Speaking to reporters, Rather said Parra was unaware of Assembly rules and had “spoken wrongly and lied.” He warned that misleading statements would not be tolerated and that those spreading false information should face legal consequences.
The Speaker clarified that neither he nor the Assembly has any role in approving or disapproving arrests. “We have said that we have no role in this. The Assembly or the Speaker does not approve or disapprove of any arrest. The Speaker does not have those rights,” he said.
Rather, explained that the Speaker’s responsibility is limited to informing members whenever a fellow legislator is arrested. “Whenever we are informed that a member has been arrested, we convey this information to the members. That is our role. Whether the arrest is right or wrong, or whether there should be an arrest or not, the Speaker or the Assembly Secretary does not interfere,” he said.
He cited Assembly Rule 260, which mandates that the Speaker must immediately convey information of a member’s arrest to all legislators. “As soon as we were informed that Mehraj Malik has been arrested under PSA, we conveyed this information to the members according to the rules and regulations. This was our role,” Rather said.
On the Hazratbal shrine controversy, the Speaker condemned the installation of any emblems at places of worship. “This should not happen. If you look at shrines and other places of worship across the country, no emblem is installed. Whoever has made this mistake, action should be taken against them,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
