Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 10: Former minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla today said that Government is shying away from its duty to conduct Urban Local Body and Panchayat elections.
“Formation of ULBs are must to empower the people of urban areas”, he said and added that in a democratic system it was necessary to make representative character of all democratic institutions to ensure people’s participation in these institutions.
Addressing public gathering to listen to grievances of people of the area of Narwal Bala Ward-3 in Gandhi Nagar constituency, Bhalla said that the Centre has blocked grants worth crores for urban development because the State Government has failed to constitute duly elected local bodies.
“Priority of this regime is not to empower people by strengthening democratic institutions but those at the helm of the affairs want to accomplish their nefarious designs by controlling such institutions through undemocratic means”, he observed and cautioned that such attitude of the ruling party would be proved disastrous for the State. “With its assiduous efforts Congress had restored faith of the people in democracy and democratic institutions but this regime during last two years has again shattered people’s faith”, he maintained.
He called upon party cadre to prepare for Panchayat elections and lambasted the Government for playing with the real spirit of 73rd amendment and local self-Government concept. Terming the promises made by PDP-BJP Government as “mere bluffs”, Bhalla said that voters are fed up with the “sheer opportunism” of these two parties.
Appealing people from different walks of life particularly youth to become part of the party, Bhalla said Congress offers a platform for all well meaning people to encourage them and play their role in party’s vision of political resolution and good governance. He said Congress by way of its pro-people policies is the only viable regional alternative for the people of the State. He said the ruling Government has failed to do anything good for the people of State except strengthening the instrument of oppression to unleash terror on them.
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