Protests erupt in Jammu and Kashmir over the detention of AAP leader Mehraj Malik, prompting National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah to criticize the LG administration’s actions.
SRINAGAR: Protests have erupted across various regions of Jammu and Kashmir in response to the detention of Mehraj Malik, the President of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Union Territory and a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Senior National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah addressed the situation on Wednesday during a visit to Baramulla.
Dr. Abdullah placed the blame squarely on the administration led by the Lieutenant Governor (LG), stating, “The police and administration are under the LG. Whatever happens there, the LG will be responsible for it.” His comments come amid escalating outrage over Malik’s detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA), a move that has drawn widespread criticism from various political factions and civil society organizations.
Following the execution of the PSA order, protests broke out in Doda and Bhaderwah, with Malik’s supporters asserting that the detention is politically motivated and intended to stifle dissent. Dr. Abdullah emphasized that such actions would not contribute to the progress of the Union Territory. “If they think jailing elected representatives will silence the voices of people, they are mistaken. Democracy is about dialogue, not suppression,” he remarked.
The former Chief Minister also called for restraint from the administration, urging a reconsideration of its approach. “This is not how you build peace. Detaining leaders without proper justification will only widen the trust deficit,” he warned.
In response to Malik’s detention, his family and party colleagues have approached the court to challenge the PSA order. The political atmosphere in the region remains tense, with multiple parties demanding Malik’s immediate release.
As the situation develops, attention is focused on the LG administration and its potential response to the mounting political pressure.
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