J&K Speaker Accepts Waheed Para’s Private Member Bills on Martyrs’ Day Holiday and Deep Mining Regulation

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather has admitted two significant Private Member Bills proposed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para. The first bill seeks the restoration of the July 13 Martyrs’ Day holiday, while the second calls for restrictions on deep mining using heavy machinery in J&K’s rivers and streams.

Push for Martyrs’ Day Holiday Restoration

Before the revocation of J&K’s special status in 2019, July 13 was observed as Kashmir Martyrs’ Day (Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir) to honor 22 Kashmiri Muslims killed in 1931 by Dogra forces during protests against the monarchy. However, after the abrogation of Article 370, the Lieutenant Governor’s administration removed it from the official holiday list and instead declared September 23—the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh—as a public holiday.

This move sparked debate, with many in the National Conference (NC) and PDP viewing the cancellation of Martyrs’ Day as an erasure of Kashmiri history. Para’s bill aims to reinstate the holiday in recognition of its historical and emotional significance.

Bill to Ban Deep Mining in J&K’s Rivers

The second bill focuses on environmental protection, proposing a ban on deep mining using heavy machinery like excavators in J&K’s rivers and streams. The use of such equipment has led to:

• Severe ecological damage – Destruction of aquatic ecosystems and riverbed erosion.
• Threats to agriculture – Altered riverbeds affecting irrigation and groundwater levels.
• Unregulated resource extraction – Concerns over illegal mining operations and environmental degradation.

The proposed law seeks to regulate riverbed mining, ensuring sustainable practices while protecting local livelihoods and biodiversity.

Path to Becoming Law

For the Bills to take effect, they must be debated and passed in the J&K Legislative Assembly. A Private Member’s Bill is one introduced by a legislator not acting on behalf of the government, meaning it can come from either the ruling party or the Opposition.

With strong political and environmental implications, these Bills are expected to spark intense debate in the Assembly, shaping J&K’s future policies on heritage and natural resource management.