“Admin creating wrong message, it will reduce People’s trust in Democracy”
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that allegations suggesting the Assembly endorsed the PSA detention of MLA Mehraj Malik are incorrect.
Speaking to reporters Omar said that the detention of Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who has been placed under house arrest at the Srinagar circuit house is reality not a claim.
Addressing reporters, Omar said that BJP’s claim that the Assembly or its Speaker approved Malik’s PSA is “wrong.” “BJP’s member has said that the Assembly and its Speaker have endorsed this decision. This is wrong. We have not endorsed it. We have no right to approve or disapprove it,” he said.
He said that the only role of the Assembly is to inform members if one of them is arrested. “Whenever a member is arrested, whoever arrests him has to inform the Assembly. We only have to convey that information to other members. That is the only role we have,” he said.
The Chief Minister rejected the use of PSA against an elected legislator, saying, “If someone has a complaint about his behavior, it can be raised with the Assembly Secretariat or the Speaker. But it is wrong to use the PSA law against an MLA. Now you have increased that mistake even more.”
On Sanjay Singh’s detention, Abdullah questioned the legality of the move. “Under which law have you kept a member of the Rajya Sabha illegally locked up? Have you served any order against him? Do you have any order for preventive detention?” he asked.
He also said that the administration’s actions are creating a wrong message. “People say everything is fine in J&K. They say the environment is good, people are happy. But the reality is that they are being strict with us and using wrong laws against elected representatives.”
Speaking about the use of the train for apple consignment, Omar said he was in contact with the Railway Minister and the Railway Department. “Today it is possible that two rakes are being used for cargo. This has become our compulsion today. But in the future, I would like this to become a regular feature,” he said as per KNS.
He suggested that special cargo trains with refrigerated containers should run continuously to transport fruits and other essentials. “People who have to send their goods by road should send it by road. But we would like the special cargo trains to run continuously from here,” he added.
On providing legal help to MLA Malik, Abdullah said, “I met his father, sat and talked to him, and assured him that we are ready to give any help from our side.”
He advised using local lawyers familiar with PSA cases. “Even if you bring a lawyer from abroad, it will take time for him to understand this law,” he said.
Omar said he himself had to fight against PSA in 2020 in the Court by appointing a good lawyer from here. “My advice to the Aam Aadmi Party and their colleagues will be that don’t bring a big lawyer from abroad. Hire one from here who knows the PSA law. If we need to help in this, we are ready to give any help.”(KNS)
