What happened to Art 370 promise, Mehraj Malik asks CM Omar

Jammu, Apr 28: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Doda East Mehraj Malik Tuesday, in a direct dig at the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, asked him (CM) what happened to his promise related to (restoration of) Article 370.

He was talking to media persons after reaching his residence in Jammu after he was released from District Jail Kathua on Tuesday after eight months. His supporters accorded him a tumultuous welcome – celebrating his release while dancing to the beats of drums, garlanding him, showering flower petals amid slogans.

“He (Omar) is the Chief Minister. Had I been the Chief Minister, for me only tweets would not have worked. The government has made big promises including the one related to Article 370. What has he done on that account? They (government) say – we have five years. Ask the casual labourers, who are suffering. When will they be regularised? When will the people be given free power? We gave free power for 10 years in Delhi.

 They are not able to control the mafia which is exploiting people in the name of toll tax,” Malik said, while targeting the elected government, in response to a query about the tweet of the Chief Minister in his (Malik’s) favour after the news about his release. Malik’s next dig was, “Their (elected government) only excuse is – we don’t have power. Do they not have a voice even? Has it been mortgaged also? Why do they not raise a voice?”

Earlier after being released from jail in Kathua, he said that he would continue to fight for the people. “I thank the judiciary for justice to me,” he said.

“Malik was released by jail authorities this morning after completion of all formalities,” his lawyer and AAP spokesperson Appu Singh Slathia stated.

After he stepped out of District Jail Kathua, rousing reception awaited him. Similar scenes were witnessed in Samba and in Jammu.

His Jammu residence witnessed emotional outpour also as he met his parents and other members of the family.

Responding to media queries, the AAP MLA said, “I have a big family. They had a plethora of woes. But few people harassed them just for their (self-aggrandisement) pleasure. My people suffered for eight months. I could meet their expectations during this period. I feel ashamed and I apologise to my people for it. But they should also feel ashamed who stifled the voice of people and killed their hopes.”

“Nevertheless, this is politics. It is a hard journey. We had come to work only but they made us crazy, dragged us to court. Bigger criminals are roaming around. What crimes have we committed?” he asked.

The High Court of J&K and Ladakh on April 27 had quashed the detention order, issued under the Public Safety Act (PSA) against Mehraj Malik, who is AAP J&K president and directed for his immediate release.

37-year-old Malik was booked and detained by the Police under the Public Safety Act (PSA), allegedly for “activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order” on September 8, 2025 and was subsequently lodged in District Jail Kathua.

Malik, while speaking to media after his release in Jammu, said his only crime was that he pleaded the cause of his electorate. “We only raised a voice for effecting change. From big platforms, voices to bring change are raised, promises to give employment are made. Whether it is the J&K Legislative Assembly or anywhere else, the politicians remain busy in their internal wrangling. Whenever they speak, they only wash dirty linen in public and defame each other. We did not resort to such acts. We only raised questions, talked about schools, hostels, and employment.”

Referring to ongoing “Nasha Mukt Abhiyan”, he stated that he had seen people being brought to jails under NDPS Act. “Poor people are brought there. If one is serious about ending drug menace, those bringing and selling Chitta (heroin) should be caught. If we have to really end this menace and solve the unemployment problem, we all will have to work together.”

Will he continue his struggle, in response to this question, he said, “As long as we are alive, we all have to strive hard and struggle to make the lives of our people better. We will have to rise above divisive politics.”

He asserted that he did nurse grudges against anyone. “No one is my enemy. But those who are enemies of my people, I treat them as enemies. Instead of acting as public servants, they start harassing people. I’ll continue to fight for the aspirations and rights of people,” AAP MLA asserted.

Taking a dig at those who made him suffer behind the bars, Malik asked, “Tell me who won this battle? They should introspect. Where are they and where am I after eight months? They can, themselves, see the difference. Mehraj’s ideology – his perception has won. You (public servants) lost.”

“Our struggle will continue. It will not change,” he said while asking youth to join politics for change. Asserting that the political space was shrinking, he stated that political engagement was imperative for change although it was difficult to raise voice against the ruling establishment.

Malik claimed that the voice of people was jailed; their aspirations were jailed. “But I’m very proud of Indian democracy and our constitution. Our struggle based on constitutional, democratic values will remain unrelenting,” he said.

Shamas Din, the father of Mehraj Malik described his son’s release as a victory of truth.

“I thank all those who supported us in our difficult times and helped us bring truth to the fore. I extend my gratitude to the Judge Sahib, all advocates, including Appu Singh Slathia and especially Muzaffar Hussain (MLA Thannamandi), without money,” he said.

AAP MLA from Ballimaran in Delhi Imran Hussain said, “Today truth has won yet again. Only Mehraj Malik was not punished but the people of Doda and Malik’s entire family, including his old parents and wife were also punished. The person who framed him in a false case, who tried to suppress the voice of people, should be punished now.”

“What was Malik demanding – school for Doda children, hospital, free medicines for people, roads, pension for old and safety for women? Was it a crime?” he asked.

Malik’s advocate and AAP spokesperson Appu Singh Slathia, while speaking to media persons in Jammu, said, “We waited for this moment for the last eight months. We all are happy and can say- All is well that ends well. Justice has been delivered.”