Farooq Abdullah blames LG for situation in Doda
Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will be responsible for the situation in Doda, which has been in a restive state since the arrest of MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act.
“The law and order machinery is under the control of the LG, he shall be responsible for what is happening in Doda,” Abdullah told reporters in Baramulla district.
The former chief minister was responding to a question about protests against Malik’s arrest and the present situation in Doda.
Asked if a special session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly should be convened over the Doda MLA’s arrest, Abdullah said it was for the Speaker to decide.
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday alleged that AAP MLA Mehraj Malik was made a scapegoat to divert attention from the Hazratbal emblem controversy.
Speaking with reporters at the party headquarters here, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said, “Religious sentiments were hurt in Hazratbal. Instead of apologising and taking action against the Waqf board and its chairperson, they have registered a case against people who expressed their anger against the desecration”.
“The MLA from Doda Mehraj Malik might have used harsh words or abusive language but to book an elected representative under the PSA seems to be a tactic to divert attention from the situation in Kashmir due to the Hazratbal incident,” she said.
The PDP chief said Doda was reeling under the effects of recent heavy rainfall and the administration chose to book the MLA instead of working on providing relief to the people.
“This speaks volumes about the enforcement of law in Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
Mufti said the LG should stop the action against the people in connection with the Hazratbal incident and also release the MLA Doda.
“It will be my appeal to the LG to withdraw the FIR in the Hazratbal incident and also release MLA Doda. He might have used harsh language but PSA or jail is not the punishment for it,” she said.
The PDP president said the situation will only become worse if the people’s freedom of expression is snatched or their voice is suppressed.
“Look at the situation in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or even Nepal now … see the situation obtaining in Doda. The LG should take cognisance of the situation on ground and set right the atmosphere by withdrawing the FIR (in Hazratbal) and release the MLA Doda,” she added.
Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra also expressed concerns over the imposition of PSA on Aam Aadmi Party MLA, terming it a direct attack on democracy.
“We believe that both sides should have opted for restraint on the issue. They should have seen that the Public Safety Act slapped on a public representative is a direct attack on democracy,” Karra told reporters during a visit to flood-hit areas of RS Pura border belt.
Replying to a question about his reaction to Malik’s detention under PSA, Karra said, “It has two aspects. One aspect is that both sides are correct, and the other aspect is that both sides are wrong. Perhaps the attitude of the concerned MLA is not appropriate, but applying the PSA on an elected member is fundamentally wrong.”
Karra said the situation currently reflects a tussle between the bureaucracy and democracy. “At this moment, it feels like it is bureaucracy versus democracy.”
He said, “We believe that both sides should have been prepared to resolve the issue through dialogue and mutual understanding.”
He pointed out that such measures raise serious questions about democratic principles and urged the authorities to reconsider their approach in dealing with elected representatives. (With inputs from PTI)
