Srinagar: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday claimed that AAP MLA Mehraj Malik has been made a scapegoat to divert attention from the Hazratbal emblem controversy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Malik, who also serves as the president of the J-K unit of the Aam Aadmi Party, was detained on Monday under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) for allegedly disturbing public order in Doda district and later lodged in Kathua district jail.
Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said, “Religious sentiments were hurt in Hazratbal. Instead of taking action against the Waqf Board and its chairperson or issuing an apology, the authorities have filed cases against those who expressed their anger over the desecration.”
She added, “The MLA from Doda, Mehraj Malik, may have used harsh or abusive language, but invoking the PSA against an elected representative appears to be a tactic to shift focus from the Hazratbal situation in Kashmir.”
Mufti also criticized the administration for prioritizing the MLA’s detention over relief efforts in Doda, which has been severely affected by recent heavy rainfall. “This reflects poorly on law enforcement in Jammu and Kashmir,” she remarked.
The PDP chief urged the Lieutenant Governor to halt actions against those involved in the Hazratbal incident and to release MLA Malik. “My appeal to the LG is to withdraw the FIR related to Hazratbal and release the MLA. While his words may have been strong, PSA detention or jail is not the appropriate punishment,” she said.
She warned that suppressing public expression could worsen the situation. “Look at what’s happening in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, or even Nepal… now consider the atmosphere in Doda. The LG must acknowledge the ground realities, withdraw the FIR, and release the MLA to restore calm,” she concluded.
