Defying prohibitory orders, hundreds of supporters of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik flooded the streets of Doda on Sunday to welcome him back to his constituency, days after being released from Kathua jail, where he had been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for eight months.
The AAP MLA Mehraj Malik of Doda is also under detention under the PSA since 8 September.
The opening day of the session also witnessed heated exchanges during the obituary references, as the NC and the Opposition BJP sparred over late former Governor Satya Pal Malik’s role in the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Kotwal’s announcement came after videos allegedly containing controversial remarks attributed to Malik came into circulation.
He accused the authorities of misusing a law meant to deal with terrorists against an elected representative, terming the move an attack on democratic rights.
He had tagged both AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and NC leader Omar Abdullah in the post.
The incident was reportedly triggered by Malik's remarks against the BJP and PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, which led to a fistfight between the enraged groups.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has one MLA in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the party, this triumph not only expands AAP’s influence into its fifth state—joining Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat, and Goa—but also signals a significant shift in the region’s political landscape.
