Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 28: Strongly opposing proposed amendment in the Panchyat Raj Act, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) today lambasted the State Government for this move and threatened agitation, if it is not withdrawn.
Talking to media persons here today, senior vice president of PCC, Sham Lal Sharma said that the PDP-BJP Coalition Government has taken a very retrograde decision to negate the very basic concept of 73rd Amendment of the Constitution introduced in the J&K Panchayat Raj Act on March 14, 2014, after Congress waged a long struggle for it in the State.
Mr Sharma who was flanked by chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, former Minister and PCC vice president Raman Bhalla and PCC general secretary Vikram Malhotra, further said that the State Govt has introduced an Amendment Bill to bring about drastic changes in the entire Panchayat Raj system in the State which goes against the basic spirit of 73rd Amendment.
”The bill seeks to bring about total change in the pattern of elections to the Panchayats. The Sarpanch is directly elected by the population of the Panchayat under the existing law,” he asserted.
Mr Sharma further added that the proposed law has provided for indirect election of Sarpanch by the Panchs in the Panchayat, adding, ”this aims at manipulating the elections to the Panchayat Raj bodies especially Sarpanchs, by the present Coalition Govt.”
The PCC leader said of the Government will not consider withdrawal, Congress will launch agitation across the State and aware masses of the designs and ‘ill-intentions’ of PDP-BJP Government.
Chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said, ”unfortunately, while in opposition both BJP and PDP were advocating for the implementation of 73rd Amendment in the State. The Congress launched a struggle in this regard ultimately the State Panchayat Raj laws were amended to incorporate the provisions of 73rd Amendment in the State Legislature and it received the assent of the Governor and published in Govt Gazette on March 14, 2014”.
He further added that now the elections to the Panchayats have to be held as per amended law on 73rd Amendment, which provided for 33 percent reservation to women for Panch level, Sarpanch level, Block level and of District Boards as well as to the SCs and STs.
”The amended law also provided for independent Election Commission for holding Panchayat elections. But the Govt has not appointed an independent Election Commission and Finance Commission as per the existing law,” he added.
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