Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 27: Castigating the ruling PDP-BJP for its reported attempt to crush democracy at grassroots level, All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today asked the Government to withdraw its proposed ‘Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2016’ immediately in the larger interest of society.
In a strong-worded statement issued here, Anil Sharma, AJKPC president, expressed serious concern over the Government move to bring flawed and illogical amendment in the existing Panchayat Raj Act of the State wherein it has proposed to snatch the rights of the people to elect their Sarpanch directly.
“If we believe the media reports, the State Cabinet has given its approval to the controversial ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2016’ which will soon be introduced in the Legislative Assembly to make it a permanent law. It is highly unfortunate that the Government has taken a complete U-turn on its commitment as it has tried to take away the genuine rights of common people to elect Sarpanches of their choice,” the AJKPC leader said.
He said the ruling dispensation should not forget that J&K is a very sensitive State and thousands of security personnel, people from different section of society and Panchayat members have sacrificed their lives to strength democracy at grassroots level and put it back on track in the State.
Making a fervent appeal, he asked the State Government not to introduce the flawed and controversial Bill in the Legislative Assembly to save the democracy at the grassroots level.
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