(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Mehbooba Mufti Questions Omar Abdullah’s Offer to Help AAP MLA Mehraj Malik’s Family
In a sharp exchange in Jammu and Kashmir politics, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has slammed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for offering legal help to the family of detained AAP MLA Mehraj Malik. She argues that Malik, as an elected MLA, can manage his own legal battles, and the CM should focus on thousands of other prisoners who truly need aid.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Saturday, Mufti pointed out the irony. "The PSA was slapped on Mehraj Malik, and he ended up in jail. Now, our Chief Minister meets his father and promises legal assistance. Mehraj is an MLA—he’s capable of handling his own case. If Omar Abdullah really wants to help, he should step up for the countless detainees in Jammu and Kashmir who lack the means," she said.
This comes amid growing criticism of the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu and Kashmir. The controversial law, part of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act 1978, lets authorities detain people without trial for up to two years to maintain public order. Malik, who represents the Doda constituency, got booked under PSA on September 8 for activities seen as harmful to peace.
Omar Abdullah, from the National Conference, has himself called out the PSA’s use against Malik as a "misuse of the law" and "excessive force" on an elected leader. "Law and order aren’t under the elected government’s control. Sure, there might be complaints about the MLA’s conduct, but slapping PSA on him is way over the top," the CM told reporters.
The drama doesn’t stop there. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are still in place in Bhalessa, Doda district, a day after Malik’s arrest. Tensions run high in the area.
Adding to the chorus, NC MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi blasted the move as an attack on democracy. "PSA isn’t just about one MLA—it’s a hit on democracy itself. Under the BJP regime, our laws have become a joke. Detaining an elected representative on flimsy charges? This law targets terrorists or silences political rivals. If he’s guilty, use regular laws, not this," Mehdi said.
The row highlights ongoing debates over PSA in Jammu and Kashmir, where critics say it often curbs dissent rather than ensuring safety. As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on how the government responds to these calls for fairness.
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