Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Thursday promised to repeal the controversial Public Safety Act if his party comes to power in J&K. The Act allows detention of a person without trial for six months.
Speaking at a party convention at Pulwama in south Kashmir, Mr. Abdullah said: “My government in 2011 mellowed down the PSA by bringing some amendments. If the NC comes to power on its own with a strong mandate, we will take no time to revoke the Act completely. I can't see the parents suffering due to the Act.”
On the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Mr. Abdullah said he will continue to pursue its revocation.
The controversial PSA, which witnessed a number of amendments in the past three decades, is the law widely used by the J&K police to round up separatists, their supporters and street protesters for a long period of detention. The Peoples Democratic Party and the People's Conference assailed Mr. Abdullah for his “soft-separatist” card.
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