Riyaz ul Khaliq
SRINAGAR
Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday revoked its own Public Safety Act on a mentally retarded person accused of allegedly desecrating a temple in winter capital some days ago.
Following alleged reports of desecration of a temple in Jammu, government had informed Legislative Assembly that the person found involved was “lunatic”. Identified as Yasir from Doda, he was slapped PSA and was lodged in a jail.
However, as soon as the business resumed in Lower House of J&K Legislature today, the issue was raised by ruling PDP’s Shopian Lawmaker, Advocate Mohammad Yousuf Bhat.
Supported by PDP’s Kokernag MLA, Ab Rahim Rather and Langate Lawmaker Engineer Rasheed, Advocate Bhat asked speaker ash how was “a made person slapped PSA”.
Condemning the act of alleged temple desecration, Government said that it will revoke the PSA if “the person was mentally sick”.
Notably, giving its statement over the desecration incident, Minister Ab Haq Khan had told the same house, some days ago, that the youth was lunatic.
“It is wrong if the PSA was slapped on lunatic person,” Minister Syed Basharat Bukhari responded to the concern raised by Lawmakers.
“Will get it revoked; and will enquire as what has led to it,” Bukhari told the house.
The government statement angered right BJP which protested revoking the PSA. “Being lunatic is no ground to revoke the PSA,” BJP’s R S Pathania said, “the said youth has disturbed the atmosphere of J&K and be given tough punishment.”
On this Independent Lawmaker Er Rasheed retorted at Pathania. “It will have to happen.” He asked government “as why PSA was not slapped on Nanak Nagar Sikh Youth”.
“Ye nai hoga; aisay nai chalay ga,” R S Pathania told the Speaker.
Notably, an official spokesperson on Wednesday had said, “District Administration, Jammu has ordered detention of Yasir Alfaz S/O. Kher Din Rio Village Shiva, Tehsil Bhaderwah, District Doda under Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978, in connection with his involvement in the sacrilegious act at Aap Shamboo Temple in Janipur on 14-06-2016.”
