Jammu, Sep 10: Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Wednesday voiced strong concern over the imposition of the Public Safety Act (PSA) on Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik, describing it as a “direct attack on democracy.”
Prohibitory restrictions were imposed in Doda district on Tuesday after clashes broke out between protesters and security forces during demonstrations against Malik’s detention under the PSA. Additional security personnel have also been deployed in the area to prevent further escalation.
“We believe that both sides should have opted for restraint on the issue. They should have seen that the Public Safety Act slapped on a public representative is a direct attack on democracy,” Karra told reporters while visiting flood-hit areas of RS Pura border belt.
Karra, who toured Badayal Brahmana and the Gharana Wetland to assess crop damage caused by recent heavy rains, interacted with farmers and inspected fields affected by the losses.
Responding to questions on Malik’s detention, Karra said, “It has two aspects. One aspect is that both sides are correct, and the other aspect is that both sides are wrong. Perhaps the attitude of the concerned MLA is not appropriate, but applying the PSA on an elected member is fundamentally wrong.”
He added that the present scenario reflects a “tussle between bureaucracy and democracy.” Emphasizing the need for dialogue, he remarked, “We believe that both sides should have been prepared to resolve the issue through dialogue and mutual understanding.”
Karra further cautioned that such measures raise serious questions about democratic principles and urged authorities to reconsider their approach in dealing with elected representatives.
(Agencies)
