Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday strongly criticised the detention of Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) state president and sitting MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), calling the move unjustified and a blow to democracy.
“There is no justification for detaining Mehraj Malik under PSA. He’s not a threat to public safety & 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,” Abdullah posted on X.
His reaction came a day after Malik, the only AAP legislator in the J&K Assembly representing Doda, was picked up by police and shifted to an undisclosed location. This marks the first time a sitting MLA in Jammu and Kashmir has been booked under the PSA, a preventive detention law widely criticised by rights groups.
Malik’s detention has triggered widespread political backlash. AAP MP Sanjay Singh had earlier termed the arrest “dictatorial,” accusing the administration of targeting Malik for raising his voice over the shifting of a local health centre. PDP leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Para and People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone also condemned the move, calling it an assault on democracy.
Malik, who reportedly has 18 FIRs and 10 daily diary reports registered against him, was recently booked after livestreaming a protest in Doda where he accused officials of bias and used harsh language against the district deputy commissioner.
The government has yet to formally respond to the criticism, but officials said Malik was detained for disturbing public order and interfering with relief distribution.
