AAP vows legal, political battle against MLA Mehraj Malik’s detention

Jammu, Sep 10: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh on Wednesday strongly criticised the detention of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), terming it “unconstitutional” and an attack on democratic rights.

Malik, a legislator from Doda, was booked on Monday under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, on grounds that his activities were prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. Officials said preventive detention was found necessary to safeguard law and order in the region.

Addressing media in Jammu, Singh said the AAP would launch a multi-pronged fight against Malik’s detention. “It is unconstitutional to slap the Public Safety Act on AAP’s Doda MLA, Mehraj Malik. This is the government’s anti-people mindset, a man was asking for a hospital and you slapped PSA on him,” Singh said.

He added that the party would take the matter to the “sadak” (streets), the “sadan” (Parliament), and, if needed, to the Supreme Court. “BJP and the Prime Minister are always after AAP. That is what is happening with us. We will take up this matter strongly,” he alleged.

Earlier in the day, Singh arrived in Jammu and met party leaders to review the next steps. He said AAP would intensify its campaign both in Jammu and Kashmir and at the national level to challenge the detention. [KNT]