Jammu, 26 June — The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday broke its silence over what it termed a sustained campaign of harassment and intimidation against its leaders and workers in the Chenab Valley, accusing authorities and political rivals of attempting to muzzle dissent through coercive tactics. The party has warned that if such pressure continues unabated, it may be forced to take to the streets in protest.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, senior AAP leaders, candidates, and volunteers voiced deep concern over recent incidents involving key party figures. The most striking among them is the detention of Choudhary Owais, a prominent AAP leader and social activist from Bhaderwah, who was jailed earlier this month for three days before being released on surety bonds filed by his family.
According to the AAP, Owais’s arrest appeared to be driven less by law and more by political pressure, with the party alleging that a directive from a local MLA to act against him preceded the detention. The precise grounds for his arrest, party leaders said, remain ambiguous, and are known only to the local administration.
The incident follows a similar case involving another AAP leader, Sujan Singh from Chiralla, who, along with his family, was allegedly attacked. The party claims the assault was carried out at the behest of BJP DDC member Manhor Lal. Despite the seriousness of the attack, the AAP alleges that police were reluctant to file an FIR, a hesitation the party says raises questions about law enforcement’s impartiality in the region.
“Efforts to suppress our voices through pressure tactics will not work,” said one of the senior leaders at the press meet. “We are not afraid of confrontation when it comes to standing for the rights of the people.”
They further accused those in power of adopting a “dictatorial approach” to governance and warned that AAP, if pushed further, would resort to mass mobilization and street protests.
The series of events unfolds amid a larger backdrop of political competition in the Chenab Valley, where the AAP has been working to expand its footprint by highlighting local grievances, especially in sectors like healthcare, rural infrastructure, and administrative accountability.
While the BJP and police have yet to issue formal responses to the AAP’s allegations, the developments add to growing concerns about political freedom and the space for dissent in the region.
The Aam Aadmi Party has reiterated its commitment to “fighting for justice through democratic means,” while appealing to civil society and media to take note of the escalating tensions.
The Chenab Times will continue to follow this story and update it with further developments or official responses from the administration.
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