Slapping PSA on Malik not good for democracy: Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday criticised the imposition of the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Mehraj Malik, calling it “not good for democracy.”

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar questioned the grounds on which Malik—an MLA from Doda in the Jammu region — had been booked under the PSA.

“What has he done to deserve the PSA? I don’t understand the need for such a strict law. Has the situation deteriorated anywhere? Was there stone-pelting?” the Chief Minister asked, expressing concern over the use of the PSA.

He added that, in contrast, no action had been taken against individuals responsible for disturbing the atmosphere at Hazratbal and hurting religious sentiments.

“Innocent people are being harassed. They’re being summoned to police stations and interrogated. But those who played with our religious sentiments face no action,” Omar said, referring to the recent controversy over the installation of a plaque bearing the national emblem at the revered Hazratbal shrine in the Kashmir Valley.

While Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained several individuals accused of vandalism, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the police of refusing to register a case against J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

The Chief Minister asserted that if MLA Mehraj Malik had committed any wrongdoing, corrective action should have been taken within the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

“If he made a mistake, it can be addressed under the supervision of the Speaker. A law like the PSA should not have been imposed on him. This erodes people’s trust in democracy. Arresting an MLA under the PSA is not a good sign—it’s not good for our democratic setup,” he said.

Mehraj Malik was detained under the Public Safety Act on Monday for allegedly engaging in activities deemed “prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.” He is the first sitting MLA in recent times in Jammu and Kashmir to be booked under the PSA. His detention has sparked widespread criticism from political leaders.

Responding to another question, Omar said the Union Territory had suffered major losses due to recent heavy rainfall.

“We expect that after assessing the damage, relief and compensation will be provided. We’ve seen significant losses, especially in Kishtwar and at Mata Vaishno Devi. There’s damage to land, houses, shops and government infrastructure. Agricultural and horticultural crops have also been badly affected,” he said.

Omar also noted that the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway had severely impacted the apple trade. “Because of the highway closure, trucks are stranded, and the apple crop is suffering,” he said.

The Chief Minister further questioned the delay in holding elections for four vacant Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir. “I don’t understand why the Centre and the Election Commission are punishing us by not conducting the Rajya Sabha elections,” he remarked.