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Reacting to the detention of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Mehraj Malik, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday stated that while there was no justification for his detain, he was not a threat to "public safety," and using discredited law was wrong.
Further in his post, the CM stated that the use of powers against an elected representative by an unelected government would raise questions of democracy amongst people. https://x.com/OmarAbdullah/status/1965051174773793192 "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," the post read. This comes after Malik, representing Doda constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, was booked under provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act 1978 (PSA) on Monday on grounds of his activities being prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. According to reports, action against him has been taken after due consideration of all relevant materials, reports and circumstances clearly establishing that the continuance of such activities by a member of the Legislative Assembly posed a grave threat to peace, public order and tranquillity in a district. Preventive detection under PSA was found necessary in the interest of maintaining public order and safeguarding law and order in the region. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal strongly reacted to the arrest, questioning the rationale behind the same, further stating that it was an attack on democracy. "Is demanding a hospital for the people your area such a grave crime that an elected MLA has to be thrown jail for it Mehraaj Malik is the lion of the Aam Aadmi Party. He will always remain the voice of the people, fighting for their rights. Jail, threats, and conspiracies... none of these can ever scare any soldier of AAP," the post read. People's Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para termed the arrest as a "shameful surrender," further stating that it is a direct assault on democracy.Further in his post, Para demanded the protection of the democratic sanctity of elected representatives. "Shameful surrender. Assembly Secretariat endorsing PSA against an elected MLA is a direct assault on democracy. J&K CM @OmarAbdullah must act, don't allow the institution of MLA, the last agency of the people, to be silenced. Today it's Mehraj, tomorrow it could be you," the post read. (ANI)
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