Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Nov 28: PCC general secretary and State convenor of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sanghathan, Shahnawaz Choudhary today asked the State Government to implement 73rd amendment of J&K Panchayati Raj Act or get ready to face massive agitation.
Addressing Congress activists and block convenors of the Sangathan at Reasi today, Shahnawaz said that the decision of holding the indirect elections of Sarpanches has been strongly opposed by the Congress Party because it will dilute the powers of the Sarpanches and Panchayats. It will further encourage corruption and horse trading during elections.
The meeting was presided by former Minister and senior Congress leader Jugal Kishore Sharma. National secretary NSUI Uday Bhanu Chib, district president Congress Pritam Singh , senior Congress leader Amit Sharma, State secretaries PYC Jatinder Singh Chib and Ajaz Chowdhary, vice president PCC social media Sahil Sharma and block president Kewal Singh were also present.
Various speakers including Sarpanches and Panches of district Reasi criticized the decision of Government to hold the indirect elections of Sarpanches and said that this will give rise to corruption. They also said that instead of incorporating the 73rd amendment in the State as done by previous Govt, this Government has further weakened and diluted the J&K Panchayati Raj Act.
Shahnawaz further said that decision of holding the indirect elections of Sarpanches will collapse the whole Panchayati Raj system and Sarpanches will remain the puppets of the concerned MLAs. He said that it is the perception of common man that this will give rise to corruption at Panchayat level.
While speaking on the occasion Pankaj Basotra State general secretary PYC and convenor Jammu province Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan said that it is very unfortunate that the Rural Development Department is being used by the present ruling Government as a tool to grab power. He said that majority of the Sarpanches from many districts have complained that the department officials instead of monitoring the ground situation took the decision of delimitation and creating of new wards if necessary from their offices or on the behest of local BJP leadership. He alleged that this Govt has weaken the Panchayati Raj Act by it’s decision.
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