Latest news with #MehrajMalik
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘CM Omar has not delivered': AAP's lone J&K MLA withdraws support to NC govt
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s lone MLA in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Mehraj Malik, has withdrawn his support to the National Conference-led government in the Union Territory (UT), citing its 'failure' to serve the public over the last nine months it has been in office. Late on Saturday, the 37-year-old firebrand AAP legislator took to social media to announce his withdrawal of support. 'I, Mehraj Malik, MLA from Doda, hereby withdraw my support to the NC in the government coalition. This decision has been taken in the best interest of my people of J&K, whose trust and welfare will always be my top priority,' he said in a post on X. Malik, in another post on X, accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his government of allegedly failing to deliver, pointing out that 'genuine public service required commitment not justification'. '(AAP national convener and former Delhi CM Arvind) Kejriwal ji resigned after 49 days (in 2013) when he couldn't serve the people the way he wanted. Omar Abdullah ji has been in power for over nine months, yet hasn't delivered anything – not because he can't, but because he won't. Public service demands intent, not excuses,' Malik said. His withdrawal of support to the Omar-led government, however, does not pose any threat to it, given that the government already has the support of 52 MLAs – seven more than the majority mark – in the 90-member J&K Assembly. A challenge for the government now would be managing the outspoken AAP leader on the floor of the Assembly, from where he has frequently taken on both the J&K government and the BJP-led Centre. During the Budget Session earlier this year, Malik had been highly critical of the Opposition BJP and the ex-CM Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of alleged 'rampant corruption' and causing the downgrade of the erstwhile J&K state to a UT. However, he may now have to ensure a working relationship with the BJP and the PDP in case his seat in the House is shifted from the Treasury side to the Opposition benches. During the last Budget Session, he was allegedly beaten outside the Assembly over his purported remarks against former CM and late PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and for mocking a protest by the BJP members against the NC-led government. Trouble erupted when Malik was talking to some media persons, and some PDP leaders caught hold of him for his 'derogatory remarks', leading to an altercation. Just a day earlier, the AAP legislator was involved in another altercation with the same PDP leaders within the Assembly complex. The BJP legislators, who were protesting nearby, and were already angry with Malik for describing their protests as 'jamawara (crowd)', also joined in. Malik has faced issues outside the Assembly, too. In May, he was booked by the police after a doctor at the Doda Government Medical College Hospital accused him of alleged criminal intimidation and gender abuse. He was booked under sections 356 (criminal intimidation), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman), 351 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Malik had previously been critical of the functioning of hospitals in Doda, even raising the issue in the House. This was however not the first time Malik's name figured in an FIR. In his affidavit for the 2024 Assembly elections, Malik declared half a dozen FIRs registered against him for offences ranging from criminal intimidation and house trespass to promoting enmity between groups. In the Assembly elections, Malik, a postgraduate from Jammu University, became a first-time MLA when he scored the AAP's maiden victory in J&K by defeating the BJP's Gajay Singh Rana in the Doda constituency by 4,538 votes. The AAP had fought its debut election in J&K last year, winning one of the seven seats it contested with a vote share of 0.52%. Prior to the Assembly polls, Malik had won in the 2020 District Development Council elections from Doda's Kahara seat, contesting as an Independent. He then unsuccessfully contested the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency last year, again as an Independent. Locals who know Malik say that the rows he has been involved in over the years have played a key role in his rise in politics. Malik joined the AAP in 2013 – a year after he finished his postgraduation – and soon drew attention by flagging local problems such as lack of drinking water and electricity at medical facilities and poor education infrastructure. He was appointed the co-chairman of the AAP's state coordination committee in 2022. He also gained support in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, when he took to the streets with local issues. Last year, he had also spearheaded a protest against the eviction drive in Jammu's Bathindi.
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
AAP's lone MLA withdraws support for National Conference-led government in J&K
The lone Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, Mehraj Malik of Jammu and Kashmir, has withdrawn support for the National Conference-led government in the Union withdrawal of support by Malik will have no impact on the government as the National Conference-Congress alliance has a majority on its own. The NC has 42 MLAs and the Congress six in the 90-seat Assembly. The government also enjoys the support of five independent MLAs."I, Mehraj Malik, MLA from Doda, hereby withdraw my support to NC in the government coalition. This decision has been taken in the best interest of my people of Jammu and Kashmir, whose trust and welfare will always be my top priority," he scripted history by defeating BJP's Gajay Singh Rana from Doda Assembly seat by 4,538 votes in last year's polls, making him AAP's first and only winning candidate from Jammu and Kashmir. He was appointed as the state president of AAP on March 21 this Watch IN THIS STORY#Jammu and Kashmir
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
AAP's lone MLA withdraws support to NC-led govt in Jammu & Kashmir
Mehraj Malik, the Aam Aadmi Party MLA, has withdrawn support from the National Conference-led government in Jammu and Kashmir. This action does not threaten the government's stability. The NC-Congress alliance maintains a comfortable majority in the assembly. Malik, representing Doda, cited the best interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as his reason. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The lone Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Mehraj Malik in Jammu and Kashmir has withdrawn support to the National Conference-led government in Jammu and withdrawal of support by Malik will have no impact on the government as the National Confernce-Congress alliance has a majority on its NC has 42 MLAs and the Congress six in the 90-seat assembly and the government also enjoys the support of five independent MLAs."I, Mehraj Malik, MLA from Doda, hereby withdraw my support to NC in the government coalition. This decision has been taken in the best interest of my people of Jammu and Kashmir whose trust and welfare will always be my top priority," the AAP legislator wrote on X on scripted history by defeating BJP's Gajay Singh Rana from Doda assembly constituency by 4,538 votes in last year's assembly polls, making him AAP's first and only winning candidate from was appointed as the state president of AAP on March 21 this year.
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
AAP MLA Mehraj Malik withdraws support from NC-led government in Jammu and Kashmir
Doda (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 14 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Mehraj Malik, representing the Doda constituency, on Saturday announced the withdrawal of his support from the National Conference (NC)-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. Malik, who also serves as the AAP's State President in Jammu and Kashmir, made the announcement on the social media platform X, stating, 'I, Mehraj Malik, MLA from Doda, hereby withdraw my support to NC in the government coalition.' He said the decision was taken in the best interest of the people of the Union Territory. 'This decision has been taken in the best interest of my people of Jammu and Kashmir, whose trust and welfare will always be my top priority,' Malik wrote. Malik's decision comes nearly eight months after he extended support to the NC-Congress alliance following his historic victory in the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. He secured the Doda seat in the JK Legislative Assembly elections by defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Gajay Singh Rana by 4,538 votes. In October 2024, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) said it would support the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) after the NC-Congress alliance emerged victorious in the recently concluded assembly election in the Union Territory. The party submitted a formal letter of support to the lieutenant governor. In Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference-Congress alliance secured an absolute majority in the Union Territory by winning 49 seats, with the former taking 42 and the latter 6 seats. Meanwhile, in a step towards reviving adventure tourism and promoting indigenous games among the youth, the Directorate of Sports and Physical Education (DOSPE), University of Jammu, in collaboration with the Indian Army, organised a ten-day Sports Camp at the Bhadarwah Campus in Doda district. The joint initiative came after recent tensions in the region following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which adversely impacted tourism and youth activities. The summer camp was designed to boost the morale of the local population. The initiative featured various traditional and modern games, providing young participants with a valuable opportunity to explore their talents and stay engaged in constructive activities. Events included athletics, volleyball, kabaddi, kho-kho, and wrestling, drawing enthusiastic participation from both students and local youth. (ANI)
India Gazette
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
J-K: AAP MLA Mehraj Malik visits Poonch, meets victims of Pakistani shelling
Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 18 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Aam Aadmi Party unit president and MLA from Doda, Mehraj Malik on Sunday visited Poonch district and met the families who were affected in the Pakistan shelling during the heightened India-Pakistan tensions. Speaking to ANI, Malik criticised the BJP-led Centre, alleging that the victims of the Pakistan shelling have not been compensated yet. He further demanded that the people who lost their lives in Pakistan shelling be accorded the status of 'shaheed' The AAP MLA said, 'People who lost their lives in the war have not yet been compensated and people who suffered losses have also not been compensated. We live in a country which is a powerful country... And this has been in going on in Jammu and Kashmir for several years, thousands have lost their lives but they were never given a status of shaheed...' 'Now, they (govt) are not compensating the losses suffered, they are only giving Rs 20,000. When you will see houses which glasses have been damaged are worth lakhs; the shutters of people's shops are broken, that is worth lakhs. If you cannot stand with the people, then how will the people fight the war,' he added. Calling the Central government's policy 'ineffective' and 'unsuccessful,' the lone AAP MLA of J-K claimed that 900 bunkers built by the Home Ministry are not in good condition. He said, 'I have written a letter to the Union Home Ministry for bunkers. I have clearly written that Rs 415 crores they spent on 900 bunkers are not good. They have not been built in a better way. People who are building tanks inside their houses are better than that. If every house is given Rs 1-2 lakh then people can build a bunker to save their lives. But the government's policy has always been ineffective and unsuccessful.' Meanwhile, earlier on Saturday, the Indian Army carried out a door-to-door outreach in villages near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, which were severely affected by recent Pakistani shelling. As part of the relief efforts, Army jawans distributed essential supplies including medicines and ration to the residents, while also interacted with them to understand their needs. On May 17, J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the administration is working on a comprehensive plan to seek centre's help to rehabilitate residents affected by Pakistan's shelling. 'Many houses and commercial properties here have been damaged due to the adversarial shelling. Today I visited those places with a senior administrative officer, saw the situation with my own eyes, and interacted with the people to understand their problems... Based on the administration's assessment, possible immediate assistance has been provided. A few people are left to be rehabilitated. But I think this help is not enough. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and senior officers will jointly prepare a comprehensive plan for the damage caused. Based on this, we will request the Indian government, and rehabilitate the remaining people,' he said. Intense shelling by Pakistan during the recent conflict with India has left a trail of destruction in the border villages and districts across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, with locals suffering damages to their houses and livelihood. Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary visited border villages near the LoC in Rajouri district and interacted with residents affected by recent hostilities. The visit followed the ruthless Pakistani shelling in the civilian areas of Jammu and Kashmir post Operation Sindoor, which was conducted on May 7. The operation was conducted in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including a Nepali national. Meanwhile, the locals residing in the border villages demanded that the government compensate them for the damaged houses. They also urged the Indian government 'not to spare Pakistan' for its misadventures. In the early hours of May 7, the Indian Armed Forces conducted strikes at nine terror hideouts deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the 'Operation Sindoor'. (ANI)
