PSA used with impunity by all J&K leaders: Lone

People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Sunday described the Public Safety Act (PSA) as a “draconian law” that has been used “with impunity” by all Chief Ministers and Governors of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting to a post by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, the MLA from Handwara said the PSA had never been repealed by any government in Jammu and Kashmir when it had the opportunity to do so. “They never repealed this draconian law when they could. They never will,” he said.

“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,” Lone said in a post on X.

Owaisi had earlier reacted to former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement that he would revoke the PSA through an ordinance whenever he regained power, criticising all governments in Jammu and Kashmir since 1978 for “misusing” the law. “I have to say it is for the first time that someone from the rest of the country has called a spade a spade,” Lone added.

The former minister further alleged that the police verification system in Jammu and Kashmir was rooted in “retributive justice”.

“Additionally, the notorious police verification system based on retributive justice and collective punishment was used by all during their tenures. In the year 2025, we have a law from the Stone Age, wherein a daughter or a son is punished for a crime committed by the father or mother; or a father is punished for a crime committed by a son or daughter. The list of relationships impacted is long. Cousins are punished for a crime committed by a cousin,” he said.