Srinagar: People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Sunday described the Public Safety Act (PSA) as a “draconian law” that has been misused by every chief minister and governor of Jammu and Kashmir over the years.
Reacting to a post by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, the Handwara MLA said no government in Jammu and Kashmir had ever taken steps to repeal the PSA despite having the power to do so.
“They never repealed this draconian law when they could — and they never will,” Lone said in a post on X. “The PSA is a draconian law that has been used with impunity by all Kashmiri chief ministers and by governors whenever J&K was under central rule.”
Owaisi had earlier reacted to former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement that he would revoke the PSA through an ordinance if given the opportunity, criticising successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir since 1978 for “misusing” the law.
“For the first time, someone from outside J&K has called a spade a spade,” Lone remarked.
He also criticised the police verification system in the Union Territory, describing it as one based on “retributive justice and collective punishment.”
“In 2025, we still have a system where family members are punished for the actions of their relatives — a daughter or son for a parent’s alleged crime, or vice versa. Even cousins face consequences for offences committed by their kin,” Lone added.
