Doda, Sept 8 – The arrest of Mehraj Malik, Jammu and Kashmir’s only legislator from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), under the region’s contentious Public Safety Act (PSA) has sparked sharp political reactions across the spectrum, with opposition leaders calling the move “undemocratic” while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defended it as necessary.
Malik, who represents Doda district, was taken into custody on Sunday and later shifted to Kathua jail. Authorities accuse him of repeatedly intimidating government officials, with several FIRs and daily diary entries reportedly registered against him. His arrest followed a video surfacing in which he was seen using harsh language against the Deputy Commissioner of Doda during a dispute over the relocation of a health sub-centre.
Opposition slams “draconian” law
The decision to invoke the PSA – a preventive detention law that allows imprisonment without trial for up to two years – has drawn criticism from multiple parties.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal condemned the detention, questioning whether “demanding a hospital for the people” could justify jailing an elected representative. He described Malik as “a lion of the AAP” and vowed to fight the case politically and legally.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference called the PSA “discredited,” insisting there was no justification for its use against a sitting MLA. Leaders of the PDP, People’s Conference and CPI(M) also joined the chorus, branding the detention as “authoritarian” and an “attack on democratic rights.”
BJP welcomes the move
In contrast, the BJP welcomed Malik’s detention. Party leaders accused him of being a “habitual offender” and said his behaviour towards civil servants had crossed the line of public decency. They argued that the government could not allow elected representatives to “harass and threaten” officials under the guise of political activity.
A controversial law
The Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, first introduced in 1978, has long been criticised by rights groups for its sweeping powers. Originally framed to curb timber smuggling, it has increasingly been used against political activists, journalists and community leaders. Critics say the law undermines basic due process and stifles dissent in the region.
Malik’s detention marks the first time in recent years that a sitting legislator has been booked under the Act – a precedent that opposition parties warn could have serious implications for representative politics in Jammu and Kashmir.
As political tempers rise, residents in Doda and beyond are left watching whether Malik’s detention will escalate into a larger confrontation between the administration and opposition forces in the Himalayan region.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
