AAP Criticizes PSA Detention of Mehraj Malik While Requesting Hospital Assistance
Party alleges “unconstitutional” action, vows to raise issue in streets, Parliament, and possibly Supreme Court.
Jammu, Sept 10: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh on Wednesday criticised the detention of party MLA Mehraj Malik under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), calling the move “unconstitutional.”
Malik, a legislator from Doda, was detained under the PSA, 1978, on grounds that his activities were prejudicial to public order, officials said.
Arriving in Jammu earlier in the day, Singh said he would meet party leaders in the region to review the next steps. He asserted that the party would raise the issue on the streets, in Parliament, and possibly in the Supreme Court.
“It is unconstitutional to slap the PSA on AAP’s Doda MLA, Mehraj Malik. This is the government’s anti-people mindset. A man was asking for a hospital, and you slapped PSA on him,” Singh said.
He also alleged that the BJP is targeting AAP leaders. “BJP, the Prime Minister is always after AAP. That is what is happening with us… We will take up this matter strongly, at the street and in Parliament, and we may also approach the Supreme Court,” he added.
Officials stated that Malik was booked under the PSA on Monday because his activities were deemed prejudicial to maintaining public order. Preventive detention under the PSA was considered necessary to safeguard law and order in the region.
Speaking on the matter, Malik’s father, Shamas Din Malik, said his son was wrongly charged under the PSA, adding that the court will decide the legality of his arrest. “The court will decide now… There was a fight with DC sahib (Deputy Commissioner of Doda)… He has been wrongly charged under PSA,” he said.
