Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday questioned heavy-handed actions by central authorities on AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who was allegedly stopped from joining the protest against the arrest of party MLA Mehraj Malik.
Omar Abdullah stated that Sanjay Singh was "locked" in the guest house and criticised the central government for "always taking a stringent stance" in Jammu and Kashmir."It's not a claim; it is a reality that Sanjay Singh was locked. Repeatedly, such things are being done. It is said that everything is fine in Jammu and Kashmir and a new J-K is emerging, but the reality is that they always adopt a stringent stance against us," Omar Abdullah said.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh was allegedly not allowed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to leave the government guest house in Srinagar to protest against the arrest of fellow party leader Mehraj Malik, who was booked under the Public Safety Act, 1978, for activities being prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.
Omar Abdullah said that the decision to invoke PSA against Mehraj Malik is "wrong", arguing that there is no reason to arrest the Doda MLA. "It is a fact that they have dealt in a stringent manner by arresting Mehraj Malik (AAP MLA). There was no reason to arrest him. Invoking PSA against an MLA is wrong," J-K CM said.
Omar Abdullah also assured Mehraj Malik's father of extending all the help and advised him to pick a lawyer from J-K who understands the PSA law. "I met his father and assured him of all the help. I would advise his party (AAP) to pick a lawyer from J&K who understands the PSA law well, and not bring a lawyer from outside J&K. I have spoken to a few lawyers. We are ready to extend all possible help," Omar Abdullah said.
Omar Abdullah further urged the government to "correct themselves" as he questioned the actions to "illegally hold back" Sanjay Singh. He added that such actions are not good for the democracy in the Union Territory and send a wrong message.
"They have taken forward this mistake by illegally holding back a Rajya Sabha MP today. Under which order was this done? This is not good for democracy in J-K. This will send the wrong message to the public. Those who are doing all this must correct themselves," Abdullah said.
Earlier in the day, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah was allegedly not allowed to enter in the guest house where Sanjay Singh was stopped. Both leaders held a conversation by standing behind the gate of the guest house.
Sanjay Singh shared the visuals and wrote, "It is a very sad thing that Farooq Abdullah Ji, who has been the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir many times, came to meet me at the government guest house upon hearing the news of my house arrest by the police, but he was not allowed to meet me. If this is not a dictatorship, then what is it?"
Abdullah too condemned the attempt to stop AAP MP Sanjay Singh from holding a protest and presser against the detention of lone party MLA Mehraj Malik under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).