The Jammu and Kashmir government will revoke the Public Safety Act (PSA) imposed on youth over the years once statehood is restored by the Union government, Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo told the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
During her address, the minister launched a strong attack on the previous PDP-BJP coalition government, accusing it of arresting and detaining thousands of youth, including underage individuals, and transferring them to prisons outside the Union Territory.
“I am reminding the House about the PDP-BJP coalition’s wrongdoings when they were in power in J&K. They allowed the detention of even underage children and later sent them to jails outside the region,” she said.
She defended her party, the National Conference, and accused the PDP and BJP of shifting blame onto the NC for such actions.
On the contentious Public Safety Act, Itoo said her party had clearly stated its position in the 2024 manifesto. She vowed to free youth detained under the PSA once statehood is restored in the region.
She added, however, that the elected government currently lacked authority over the Home Department.
“Whenever that department comes under our control, we will review the Public Safety Act and the cases related to it,” she said. Her remarks followed a heated debate in the House over youth lodged in jails outside the Union Territory.
Members of PDP, along with other Kashmir-based opposition parties and independent legislators, demanded the immediate release and review of PSA cases, as well as the return of detained youth from jails across the country.
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