Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 5: Congress today asked the PDP-BJP Government to hold direct elections to the position of Sarpanch as that is the essence of grassroot democracy.
Addressing a meeting of party workers and delegates of Marh Assembly constituency today, PCC general secretary, Balwan Singh said that the Panchayat elections were meaningless unless the direct polls are held for the posts of Sarpanchs. That is the fundamental of the polls and empowerment of the people, he added.
Balwan Singh said that the Panchs don’t represent the whole Panchayat for they come from different segments; it is the Sarpanch, who represents the whole Panchayat. The Sarpanch can act independently for the welfare of the whole of the Panchayat only if he is elected directly.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, former Minister Mula Ram and Ashok Sharma (Ex-MLA), also attended the meeting.
Tara Chand said that all the development works, reservation of the weaker sections across the State and formation of administrative units was done by Congress. He said that the BJP is trying to put everything in reverse gear and people will not tolerate it for long.
Mula Ram, while speaking on the occasion, highlighted various development works and recruitment in Government services during Congress regime while Ashok Sharma (Ex-MLA) explained the empowerment of the people through Panchayati Raj in the country. He regretted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are debarred from that right.
The meeting also voiced concern over the deteriorating situation in the State in which the local Kashmiri youth had started participating in the “Fidayeen” attacks.
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