Terming it a “sad day for democracy”, political leaders across the divide in Jammu and Kashmir Monday condemned the arrest of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik. The BJP, meanwhile, welcomed the arrest of Malik, alleging he is a “repeat offender”.
Malik was booked on Monday under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) and sent to jail for allegedly disturbing public order, police said.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on X: “Is demanding a hospital for the people such a grave crime that an elected MLA has been thrown in jail for it? Mehraj Malik is a lion of the AAP. He will always fight as the voice of the people for their rights. Jail, threats, and conspiracies can never intimidate any soldier of AAP.”
NC leader and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, calling the PSA a “discredited law”, said: “There is no justification for detaining Mehraj Malik under the 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?”
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para said laws such as the PSA are “weaponised to silence people”. “Strongly condemn the use of the 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,” Para said.
CPI(M) leader and five-time MLA M Y Tarigami called Malik’s arrest under the PSA a “draconian step” that sets a “very wrong precedent”.
The BJP welcomed the action against Malik, calling him a “habitual offender”. In a statement, party spokesperson Parimoksh Seth claimed that Malik had a history of controversial acts including allegedly misbehaving with a woman doctor in May. Seth said the AAP has failed to take action against him.
