Several National Conference (NC) and Congress MLAs today staged a silent protest inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly complex, demanding the release of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Mehraj Malik.
The nine-day autumn session of the J&K Assembly commenced today.
Malik, who represents the Doda constituency, was detained under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) in September for allegedly disturbing public order. His arrest was the first instance in Jammu and Kashmir where a sitting MLA was detained under the PSA, a law that allows detention without charge or trial for up to two years in certain cases. Carrying placards and standing in silence, the protesting MLAs urged the government to release Malik immediately, asserting that as an elected representative, he has a democratic right to participate in the Assembly proceedings.
“We appeal for the release of Mehraj Malik as soon as possible so that he can fulfill his responsibilities as an MLA in this Assembly,” said NC legislator Tanvir Sadiq, who also serves as the party’s chief spokesperson. “The biggest treasure of our democracy is that people vote and send their representatives to the Assembly. An elected representative should never be arrested,” he added.
Sadiq said all NC and Congress MLAs stand united in their demand for Malik’s release. “We want Mehraj Malik to be freed because the beauty of democracy lies in the fact that an elected person is chosen by the people. The people of Doda deserve to have their voice heard in the Assembly,” he said.
“He has been elected by the people of Doda, and they deserve that their representative speaks in the House. We very strongly demand his release,” Sadiq reiterated. The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh last week directed the government to allow Malik to cast his vote for the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for Thursday through a postal ballot from prison.
