Srinagar, Jan 31 (KNS): After promising setting up of Truth and Reconciliation committee and a resolution to grant autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference (NC) on Thursday promised of repealing the Public Safety Act (PSA) if voted to power in the upcoming elections.
NC Vice President and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said that the party will revoke PSA in the State if voted to power in 2019 assembly elections, saying that his party will not even leave the trace of PSA within days after coming into the power.
“The revocation of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) needs discussion with the Central government, we will talk with them but let us at least revoke the state laws,” he said, adding that “I assure you and people of Jammu and Kashmir that I have decided not to leave even the trace of PSA within some days if voted to power.”
According to KNS correspondent, Omar was addressing party workers in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district at party’s district headquarters.
“I will not promise of stopping slapping PSAs as some after me could use it again but I will blot the law out of papers if voted to power,” he added.
The former chief minister further said that Kashmir youth should not be arrested under PSA and for months together their parents suffer for their dear ones. “Governments are meant to heal the wounds of people and to provide relief to them,” Omar said.
He said that though his government couldn’t provide jobs to youth but didn’t push them to join militancy, “we couldn’t remove the bunkers but didn’t come up with establishments of new ones.”
Pitching for a single party rule, Omar said NC want a government on its own with aim to rectify certain things, saying that a number of handicapped governments were seen in the State where parties remain at the mercy of someone else. (KNS)