Jammu: 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, calling it “a direct attack on democracy.”
Prohibitory restrictions and additional security forces were deployed in Doda district after clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel during demonstrations against Malik’s detention on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to flood-affected areas in RS Pura, Karra said, “The PSA on a public representative is a direct assault on democracy. Both sides should have exercised restraint.”
Karra, who toured Badayal Brahmana and Gharana Wetland to assess crop damage from recent heavy rains, interacted with farmers and inspected the affected fields.
Asked about his reaction to Malik’s detention, Karra said, “This issue has two sides — both right and wrong. Perhaps the MLA’s attitude was not appropriate, but slapping PSA on an elected member is fundamentally unjust.”
He described the situation as a conflict between “bureaucracy and democracy,” stressing that it should have been resolved through dialogue and understanding.
Karra further warned that such actions undermine democratic principles and urged authorities to review their approach in dealing with elected representatives.
