CM Omar Abdullah offers help to Doda MLA in legal battle

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 11 (STC): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday has offered help to MLA Doda Mehraj Malik. He said that his government is ready to support him in the legal battle following his detention four days back under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
Omar in conversation with reporters said that assistance will be provided to the MLA’s family and colleagues. He listed appointing a lawyer familiar with the PSA framework as crucial for an effective defence.
“My advice to the Aam Aadmi Party and their colleagues will be that they should not bring a lawyer from abroad. They should take a lawyer from here who knows the law of PSA. If needed, we are ready to give any help,” he added.
Recalling his own experience, Abdullah said that he had faced a similar situation in 2020. “In 2020, when the PSA case was filed against me, I fought that battle in the Supreme Court by appointing a good lawyer from here. We are ready to help in any way,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said that understanding the PSA is essential for anyone involved in the case. “PSA law is not applicable anywhere else in this country. If you bring a lawyer from abroad, it will take time for him to understand this law. We are ready to help. Some lawyers are ready to fight this case. It is better that they appoint a lawyer who knows this law,” he said.
The CM said that using the PSA against a sitting MLA is improper and undermines democratic procedures. “If someone has a complaint about their behaviour, you can raise it with the Assembly Secretariat or talk to the Speaker about it. But using PSA against an MLA is wrong,” he said.
The Chief Minister rejected claims that the detention of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was being exaggerated. “You ask questions as if Sanjay Singh is lying. This is not his claim, this is the reality,” he said. “On July 13, we did not claim that we were locked up. We were kept locked up. This is the reality,” he further said, adding that singh is still being detained. “Only those who are behind this decision can explain the reason,” he added.
Omar also said that it is said that everything is fine in J&K, the environment is good, people are happy, and everything is becoming a new J&K. But the reality is that whenever you look at it, these people do nothing other than being strict.”
(Inputs from KNS / Straight Talk Communications)