No justification for detaining Mehraj Malik under PSA: CM Omar Abdullah

Other political leaders also denounce PSA against MLA Doda Mehraj Malik

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 08 (STC): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has strongly criticised slapping of Public Safety Act (PSA) on MLA Mehraj Malik. “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,” CM Omar Abdullah said in his post on X handle.
Apart from the Chief Minister, other political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir have denounced slapping of PSA on elected representative from Doda Mehraj Malik, and said such “draconian laws” are weaponised to silence political voices.
J&K Peoples’ Conference (JKPC) chairman and MLA Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, in a post on X said: “We strongly condemn the use of the PSA against @MehrajMalikAAP This is a soulless democracy”.
He added that” The will of the people of J and K continues to be subservient. What is the fun of having elections if an elected representative cannot voice his sentiments. A very sad day for an already endangered democracy”.
Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama Waheed-ur-Rehman Para posted on his X handle: “Strongly condemn the use of PSA against MLA Mehraj Malik. Such draconian laws are weaponised to silence political voices & crush dissent. Such authoritarian measures are no way to resolve differences in a democracy”.
Awami National Conference (ANC) Senior Vice President, Muzaffar Shah, has terming the action as unjust, undemocratic and politically motivated said, “Slapping PSA on an elected representative is nothing but an attempt to silence the voice of the people he represents. It reflects the widening gap between the rulers and the aspirations of the masses. These undemocratic acts only deepen alienation and distrust among the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Instead of engaging with elected representatives, the Government is choosing to criminalize political activity, which is an extremely dangerous precedent.”
(Straight Talk Communications)