SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s lone Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, Mehraj Malik, has alleged that his political activities and movement are being restricted by the administration following his release from jail earlier this year.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Malik claimed that he has not been allowed to travel beyond his Doda assembly constituency or organise proposed party conventions across Jammu and Kashmir.
“All the MLAs and political leaders are free to move in any part of Jammu and Kashmir and are provided security to ensure safety, but my movement has been curbed, and my security has also been downsized to a mere two PSOs,” Malik said, alleging that no written explanation had been provided by either the civil or police administration.
Malik, who won the Doda assembly seat in the 2024 elections by defeating BJP candidate Gajay Singh Rana by more than 4,500 votes, said verbal directions were being issued to prevent him from leaving the district.
The AAP legislator was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in September last year by then Doda District Magistrate Harvinder Singh over controversial remarks and allegations against the district administration. His detention was later quashed by the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on April 28 this year.
“After my release, my movement has been strictly curbed and security downsized. The other day, the lieutenant governor held a Nasha Mukt rally in Kishtwar; however, I was not allowed to travel to Srinagar or to Jammu,” Malik alleged.
He further claimed that he was not being permitted to hold political gatherings, even at his residence, and said officials had failed to provide any formal order explaining the restrictions.
“My movement is limited within the Doda constituency. I am not allowed to hold gatherings at my home. There is no written direction from the administration or law and order machinery, only verbal denial,” he said.
Malik said he had written to the Kashmir divisional commissioner and deputy commissioners regarding proposed party conventions in the Valley’s districts but had received no response.
The MLA also questioned the reduction in his security cover, arguing that if authorities considered him vulnerable, additional security should have been provided instead of restrictions on movement.
“If I have a security threat, then I should be given more security. But I am astonished that I am given only two PSOs. No escort or other security cover is provided when I visit any place or event in my constituency,” he said.
Malik said he had now written to Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, alleging that his constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and movement, were being violated.
In the letter, Malik stated that the purpose of his proposed tour was “healthy public interaction” with supporters and not to create unrest. He also alleged that some of his volunteers and office-bearers had been unlawfully detained.
Reacting to the issue, AAP national convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned the restrictions imposed on Malik.
“First, you put Mehraj Malik in jail in a completely fabricated case. Since he returned from jail, people across the entire state wanted to meet him. How can you stop him from travelling in your state and meeting ordinary people?” Kejriwal said in a post on X.
AAP spokesperson Mudasir Hassan said the party had planned conventions and meetings in all 20 district headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir, beginning with Anantnag, but permission had not been granted.
“On June 7, we had a convention in Anantnag, but no permission was given,” Hassan said, adding that the party was considering moving the High Court against the alleged restrictions.
