Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Wednesday strongly criticized the detention of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), calling it “a direct assault on democratic principles.”
“We believe both sides should have exercised restraint. Slapping the PSA on a public representative is nothing short of an attack on democracy,” Karra told reporters during his visit to flood-hit areas of the RS Pura border belt.
Karra toured Badayal Brahmana and Gharana Wetland villages to assess crop damage caused by recent heavy rains, interacting with affected farmers and inspecting waterlogged fields.
On Malik’s detention, the Congress leader said the issue had “two aspects.”
“Perhaps the attitude of the MLA was not appropriate, but imposing the PSA on an elected representative is fundamentally wrong. It now seems like a tussle between bureaucracy and democracy,” Karra remarked.
He urged the authorities to pursue dialogue and mutual understanding instead of resorting to harsh measures, warning that such actions raise serious questions about the health of democratic institutions.(KINS)
