JNM journalist Hardeep Jamwal | Jammu
Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo made a major political statement in the Assembly on Monday, saying that as soon as Jammu and Kashmir regains its statehood, the Public Safety Act (PSA) will be abolished. Concrete steps will be taken to bring back youth imprisoned outside Jammu and Kashmir.
During a heated debate on the PSA in the Assembly, Minister Sakina Itoo clarified that the National Conference had already made its stand clear on this issue in its election manifesto. She said that the party is working seriously to restore statehood, and that after that, there will be no need for laws like the PSA.
Taking aim at the PDP-BJP government
Sakina Itoo targeted the former PDP-BJP government, saying that during that period, youth were detained and sent to jails outside Jammu and Kashmir.
She said, “I want to remind them that when the PDP-BJP was in power, children and youth were arrested and sent to jails outside the state. Today, the National Conference is being blamed for those very decisions, which is completely false.”
The minister categorically rejected allegations that the National Conference is being held responsible for draconian laws like the PSA.
‘We don’t have the Home Department right now’
Clarifying the situation regarding the PSA, Sakina Itoo said that the elected government does not currently have the Home Department.
She said, “When the Home Department comes to us, the PSA and all matters related to it will be seriously reviewed. Our goal is to ensure that no innocent youth is treated unfairly.”
The issue heated up in the House
It is noteworthy that this statement came at a time when the Assembly is witnessing a heated debate regarding the youth imprisoned outside Jammu and Kashmir in jails and the repeal of the Public Safety Act. The opposition continues to raise questions, while the government is touting the restoration of statehood as the key to a solution.
Sakina Itoo’s statement is being seen as a clear political signal toward the restoration of statehood and the repeal of the Public Safety and Security Act (PSA), a topic that is likely to intensify further political debate in the coming days.
