Srinagar, Sept. 9 -- 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 be...