Srinagar ,Sep 9 (KNS) : Deputy Chief Minister Surrinder Chowdhary Tuesday issued a scathing condemnation of the arrest of Mehraj Malik, an elected MLA from Doda, under the Public Safety Act (PSA), calling it “illegal, undemocratic, and a direct assault on the will of the people.”

Addressing the press, the Deputy CM stated firmly, “Mehraj Malik is not a criminal, nor a militant. He is a leader chosen by lakhs of voters to represent their voice in the Assembly. Imposing PSA on him is a shameful misuse of power and an attack on democracy itself.”

Chowdhary did not spare the ruling establishment, accusing them of hypocrisy: “While BJP leaders and MLAs freely abuse others without facing any consequences, representatives like Mehraj Malik are being targeted simply for speaking up.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThis double standard cannot be tolerated.”

Taking his criticism further, the Deputy Chief Minister declared, “This is not a PSA on Mehraj Malik but it’s a PSA on Indian democracy. If punishment is warranted, it should be directed at those spreading hatred and abuse, not at those elected by the people.”

The Deputy CM urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to immediately revoke the PSA against the MLA, emphasizing that elected leaders must be allowed to function without fear of arbitrary detention.

This bold statement comes amid mounting political tensions and concerns that preventive detention laws are being weaponized to silence dissent rather than safeguard public order.(KNS)