Srinagar: As many as 19 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were detained last week for trying to protest against the new land laws of J&K, Thursday refused to sign surety bonds, asking them to refrain themselves from taking part in “unlawful anti-national activities”.
The PDP members, including some senior leaders, appeared before the executive magistrate in Srinagar where they were asked to sign the bonds.
According to government officials, the members refused to sign the undertaking, following which the magistrate fixed 24 November as the next date to hear the case.
The surety bond stated: “That we are permanent residents of the J&K UT. That a case under section 107/151 stands against us in the Hon’ble court of Tehsil office south Srinagar. That we will not indulge myself in any unlawful anti-national activities. That incase if we will be found again including myself in any unlawful anti-national activities then I shall be liable to face any action as per law.”
On 29 October, 19 PDP members were detained by the J&K Police when they attempted to take out a protest against the new land laws outside their party headquarters in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk area. They were released the same day.
PDP president and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who had attempted to reach the police station where her party members were detained, was stopped mid-way by police that day.
A case under sections 107 and 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, was registered against the leaders.
The new laws now allow people from other parts of the country to buy land in the region, which was restricted by the Article 370 scrapped by the Centre last August.
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Such affidavit ‘unacceptable in a democracy’
Senior PDP leader Waheed Para, who is one of 19 leaders detained by police, said the affidavit was “unacceptable in a democracy”.
“We simply took out a peaceful demonstration to protest the land laws. Isn’t that supposed to be our right? We did not indulge in violence or asked any of our followers to do so. Why are we then being asked to sign the bond,” Para told ThePrint.
Government officials, however, said if the PDP leaders continue to refuse signing the bonds, they can be arrested.
“If they continue to refuse signing the surety bond, they can be arrested but what actions need to be taken depends on the officer in-charge, who will assess the situation. They will have to sign the bond. The administration is taking all precautions to avoid untoward incidents. There is nothing personal against any individual,” a senior government official said requesting anonymity.
‘India is the world’s largest democracy only on paper now’
Mufti strongly reacted to the development on Twitter.
“In which democracy is the right to peacefully protest an ‘anti national’ activity? PDP members detained last week for attempting to peacefully protest against news land laws in J&K today refused to sign a dictatorial affidavit that terms dissent as anti-national,” she wrote.
“When will this deliberate attempt to conflate BJP with India stop? How does disagreeing with BJP’s communal & divisive actions tantamount to being an anti-national or sedition? Seems like India is the world’s largest democracy only on paper now,” she added.
In which democracy is the right to peacefully protest an ‘anti national’ activity? PDP members detained last week for attempting to peacefully protest against news land laws in J&K today refused to sign a dictatorial affidavit that terms dissent as anti national. pic.twitter.com/tnQsFU5za3
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 5, 2020
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