Srinagar, Oct 5 : Seeking release of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today said that ‘India is a democracy on paper, but clearly the grim descent into a banana republic has begun’.

Lashing out at centre, Mehbooba said that the government first gets a docile media to berate Congress and lament lack of a visible opposition but systematically ensures they don’t discharge their duties by illegal arrests.

“GOI first gets a docile media to berate Congress & lament lack of a viable opposition but systematically ensures they don’t discharge their duties by illegal arrests. We are a democracy on paper but clearly the grim descent into a banana republic has begun. Release @priyankagandhi,” Mehbooba wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

She alleged that applying Section 144 CrPC restrictions wherever Human Rights (HRs) and dignity is trampled upon has emerged as Centre’s preferred approach.(UNI)