CM Omar, others condemn PSA on AAP MLA

Srinagar, Sep 8: Political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, cutting across political lines, on Monday denounced the slapping of the Public Safety Act (PSA) against Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Doda East and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Mehraj Malik.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his displeasure over the slapping of the PSA on Malik, saying there was no justification for detaining him.

He said Malik was not a threat to “public safety”, and using this “discredited” law to detain him was wrong.

Taking to the microblogging site ‘X’, CM Omar said, “There is no justification for detaining Mehraj Malik under PSA. He’s not a threat to 'public safety' and using this discredited law to detain him is wrong.

If the unelected government can use its powers against an elected representative like this, then how does anyone expect the people of J&K to continue to have faith in democracy?”

People’s Conference Chairman and MLA Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, expressed strong condemnation over the move.

In a post on ‘X’, Lone said: “We strongly condemn the use of the PSA against @MehrajMalikAAP

This is a soulless democracy. The will of the people of J&K continues to be subservient. What is the fun of having elections if elected representative cannot voice their sentiments? A very sad day for an already endangered democracy.”

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and MLA Dooru Ghulam Ahmad Mir, in a post on ‘X’, said, “As CLP leader J&K, I strongly condemn the unjust detention of MLA Mehraj Malik under PSA. This undemocratic act undermines the will of the people and erodes faith in our institutions. I demand his immediate release & call for united opposition to such authoritarianism. #DemocracyUnderAttack @MehrajMalikAAP @AamAadmiParty @INCIndia @INCJammuKashmir.”

CPI (M) senior leader and MLA Kulgam, Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami, strongly criticised the slapping of what he termed as a black and draconian law, the PSA, against Malik.

Tarigami said, “Slapping PSA on an elected member of the Legislative Assembly sets a very wrong precedent. Such a harsh and unjustified measure must be immediately revoked.”

National Conference (NC) leader and MLA Hazratbal, Salman Ali Sagar, also condemned the move.

He said detaining an elected representative under “draconian laws” had set a dangerous precedent in Jammu and Kashmir after 2019.

He urged authorities that free speech and political voice must be protected.

“Strongly condemn the use of PSA against MLA Doda @MehrajMalikAAP. Detaining elected representatives under draconian laws sets a dangerous precedent in J&K post-2019, stifling democracy and silencing dissent. Free speech and political voices must be protected, not suppressed,” the NC leader said on ‘X’.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, said such draconian laws were being used as a weapon to silence political voices and crush dissent.

He said such measures were no way to resolve differences in a democratic setup.

Taking to ‘X’, Para said, “Strongly condemn the use of PSA against MLA Mehraj Malik. Such draconian laws are weaponised to silence political voices and crush dissent. Such authoritarian measures are no way to resolve differences in a democracy.”

Another PDP leader and MLA Kupwara, Mir Muhammad Fayaz, also condemned the detention of

Malik under the PSA, and termed it “unacceptable”.

“I strongly condemn the slapping of PSA on MLA @MehrajMalikAAP. Silencing an elected representative in J&K through such draconian laws is unacceptable. Elected leaders in J&K must be heard, not silenced by PSA,” he posted on X.

Apni Party Senior Vice President and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir on Monday expressed concern over the invoking of the PSA against Malik for allegedly using abusive language and making derogatory remarks against an administrative officer in Doda district.

“If the concerned MLA had committed any offence, he should have been charged under the appropriate laws. There was no need to impose such a harsh law under which he could be kept in jail without trial. Our legal system already has sufficient provisions to take action against any accused. However, every individual has the fundamental right to defend themselves in the court of law,” Mir said. “Invoking the PSA against an MLA will convey a wrong message to the public.”

He urged the administration to withdraw the PSA imposed on the MLA and, if necessary, proceed against him under the relevant provisions of law so that the court might examine the matter and deliver justice.

Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) also strongly condemned the slapping of PSA on Malik and reminded the political class of their “shameful silence” on the continued incarceration of Member of Parliament, Engineer Rashid, now in his seventh year behind bars.

AIP chief spokesman Inam-un-Nabi said, “We unequivocally oppose the PSA on Mehraj Malik, but we must remind everyone where these loud voices were when Engineer Rashid, a sitting MP with a massive people’s mandate, was thrown in Tihar Jail and left to suffer seven long years of incarceration? When he was attacked inside jail in a murderous assault, none of these so-called champions of democracy uttered a word.”

He even accused CM Omar, opposition leader Mehbooba Mufti, and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal of “selective outrage”.

“Today, because the noose has tightened around one of your own, you suddenly find the courage to speak. But when it was about Engineer Rashid, the people’s voice, an elected MP, you chose to look away. Your silence then was not just complicity, it was betrayal.”