Mass Candlelight Demonstration in Jammu Demands Release of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik
JAMMU, October 13: In a powerful show of solidarity, hundreds of people gathered at Shri Bhim Rao Ambedkar Park, Panama Chowk, on Sunday evening to light candles in support of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik, demanding his immediate release. The event, organized at the call of senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and in-charge of Nagrota Assembly constituency, Amit Kapoor, witnessed a massive turnout of party leaders, workers, and citizens who came together to voice their dissent against the Public Safety Act (PSA) imposed on Malik.
The participants, holding candles aloft, chanted slogans such as “Release Mehraj Malik,” “End PSA against Mehraj Malik,” and “Dictatorship will not be tolerated.” The peaceful demonstration reflected growing public discontent over the detention of the MLA and marked one of the largest citizen-led protests in recent weeks. Similar candlelight vigils were also reported from other parts of the Jammu division, where supporters held gatherings to express their demand for justice and democratic fairness.
Addressing the gathering, Amit Kapoor said that the Aam Aadmi Party stands firmly with Mehraj Malik and will continue its democratic struggle until his release. “The imposition of PSA on Mehraj Malik is an attack on democratic values and the voice of the people. Silencing elected representatives through such means amounts to murdering democracy,” Kapoor asserted.
He further emphasized that AAP’s movement for justice will intensify in the coming days through sustained public mobilization and a signature campaign that has already received overwhelming support from the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. “Our fight is not just for one individual but for the preservation of democratic rights and the dignity of the people’s mandate. We will not remain silent until Mehraj Malik walks free,” he added.
The event drew the participation of several prominent AAP leaders, including Harpreet Singh, Gurmeet Singh Bagi, Amrik Singh, Fancy, Talwinder Singh, Dalwinder Singh Bhagat, Robin Singh, Aslam Kohli, Shubham Singh, and Gulzar Singh, among others. The gathering concluded with a collective pledge to continue the peaceful movement across the Union Territory until their demands are met.
