Sajad Lone welcomes Owaisi’s statement against PSA; slams successive J&K Governments for ‘misusing’ the Act

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 19 (STC): Welcoming MP Asaduddin Owaisi’s statement on Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, MLA and People’s Conference (PC) Chief Sajad Lone said no government in Jammu and Kashmir tried to repeal the PSA when they had the power to do so.
Sajad Lone on X platform said, “They never repealed this draconian law when they could. They never will. The PSA is a draconian law. It has been used with impunity by all Kashmiri chief ministers and all governors whenever J&K was under central rule.”
Notably, Owaisi had criticised all governments in Jammu and Kashmir since 1978 for allegedly misusing the PSA, while reacting to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent statement that he would revoke the law through an ordinance if he returned to power.
The PC Chief welcomed Owaisi’s remarks, saying, “I have to say it is for the first time that someone from the rest of the country has called a spade a spade.”
He also criticised the existing police verification system in Jammu and Kashmir, calling it “retributive” and unjust.
“Additionally, the notorious police verification system based on retributive justice and collective punishment was used by all during their tenures,” Lone said.
He added that even in 2025, rules remain in place that punish people for the actions of their relatives.
(Straight Talk Communications)