Temple desecration: BJP MLAs question J&K govt over revocation

MLAs of ruling coalition partner BJP today questioned the revocation of charges under the stringent PSA slapped against a youth, accused of desecration of a temple in Jammu, leading to an uproar in the Assembly.
The government defended its action, saying the youth was a "lunatic" and there was no compulsion to slap charges under the Public Safety Act (PSA) on him. The accused will be examined by a medical board, it said.
As soon as the House met in the morning, BJP MLA from Ramnagar constituency in Jammu R S Pathania asked the government on what grounds were the charges revoked?

"Only the district magistrate has the power to revoke PSA. The government has no authority to issue any such order," said Pathania, who was supported by other BJP lawmakers from Jammu region.
The Jammu District Magistrate had slapped PSA on Yasir Alfaz, a youth from Doda and a government-declared "lunatic", for desecrating a temple in Janipur on June 12.
Ruling PDP MLA from Shopian Muhammad Yousuf Bhat on Thursday had demanded revocation of PSA charges slapped against Alfaz saying he was a lunatic. Bhat was supported by opposition members in the House. That evening, the government had revoked PSA charges.

The BJP members were confronted by Independent legislator from Langate Sheikh Abdul Rashid who demanded action against the killers of a trucker from Kashmir, Zahid Ahmad, who was set ablaze by a mob in Udhampur on Jammu-Srinagar Highway last year in the aftermath of the beef ban row.

Rashid found support from opposition National Conference (NC) MLAs who continued to spar with the BJP legislators for some time.
Replying in the House, Law Minister Abdul Haq Khan said the youth was already in police custody and as such, there was no compulsion to slap PSA charges on him.
"The government has to do justice. He is a lunatic who is in custody on the basis of an FIR and there is no compulsion to slap PSA on him," he said, adding the District Magistrate has to satisfy himself as regards the grounds on which PSA charges could be slapped on anybody.

He, however, said a medical board would examine Alfaz.
"A medical board will examine him to reveal whether he is lunatic or normal and the government will take action accordingly. We will render justice," Khan said.
However, opposition members were not convinced and created ruckus over the release of 22 people detained by the police for vandalising public property after the alleged desecration of the temple.
"What happened to Zahid's killers? Hang them," demanded the opposition legislators before staging a walkout.