In a surprising turn of events, National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah attempted to meet Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on Thursday, but police barricades prevented him from entering Singh’s residence at the Government Circuit house in Srinagar. Undeterred, Singh climbed over the gate to engage in a conversation with Abdullah, where both leaders condemned the police’s actions as politically motivated and directed by the Lieutenant Governor.
The meeting came in the wake of growing tensions surrounding the detention of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Abdullah appealed to the government to reconsider its decision, asserting that invoking the PSA against an elected representative is unwarranted. He said, “Doda is already grappling with floods, and now this episode has further engulfed the district.”
While Abdullah expressed regret over Malik’s behavior towards the Deputy Commissioner of Doda, he emphasized that the MLA’s missteps should not have led to such severe consequences. “It is unfortunate that the MLA’s behavior with the DC was not up to the mark. The situation would not have reached this critical point had he apologized at the right time,” Abdullah said.
However, he reiterated that slapping the PSA on Malik was equally unjustified. “This should be revoked. The MLA should also be apologetic for his language,” Abdullah added, highlighting the need for accountability on both sides.
Sanjay Singh echoed Abdullah’s views, criticizing the government’s heavy-handed approach. He said, “The police action is a clear attempt to silence dissent and intimidate elected representatives.”
Abdullah also welcomed the recent introduction of goods train services in the Kashmir, viewing it as a positive development amidst ongoing disruptions of Srinagar-Jammu National highway.
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