Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday criticised the invoking of the Enemy Agents Ordinance in Jammu and Kashmir against locals supporting foreign terrorists, calling it a violation of constitutional rights.
J&K Police chief RR Swain recently said that locals who are found supporting foreign terrorists will be dealt with under the Enemy Agents Act, which he said entailed a punishment of life imprisonment or a death sentence.
The top cop’s statement came in the wake of a series of terror incidents in Jammu in the last two weeks.
The former Chief Minister Mufti criticized the application of Enemy Agents Ordinance in J&K.
“Jammu Kashmir police’s recent decision of invoking the draconian Enemy Ordinance Act from the Maharaja’s era against its own citizens on mere suspicion of abetting & aiding militants isn’t only deeply concerning but a major breach of justice.
“These archaic laws violate human rights & the punishments accompanying it are grossly incompatible with principles & values of justice enshrined in the Constitution,” Mufti posted on X.
“GOIs (government of India’s) quest to address security concerns shouldn’t come at the cost of trampling constitutional rights & eroding the very rule of law,” she added.
Mufti’s daughter and her media advisor, Iltija Mufti, said actions like the arrest of former High Court Bar Association president Mian Qayoom and invoking of laws by BJP suggest that there will be little change in the BJP’s policy regarding Kashmir.
“What does J&K admins recent decision of arresting Mian Qayoom, banning JK High Court Bar Association elections & @JmuKmrPolice invoking a draconian law from the erstwhile Maharaja’s era tell you?
“That even after losing its brute majority there will be little change in BJPs policy vis – a -vis Kashmir. In the past five years since the reading down of Article 370 the only thing thats been constant is GOI instilling a sense of fear & insecurity amongst Kashmiris,” Iltija said on X.
“This sudden slew of repressive actions is also to punish Kashmiris for exercising their right to vote to wholeheartedly reject Delhi’s illegal revocation of J&Ks special status as well as its deeply disliked proxy parties.
“GOIs veneer of ‘security’ is simply a crumbling facade to collectively punish & humiliate India’s only muslim majority state,” she added.
