Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 3: Four Opposition legislators, who are also Panchayat representatives, accused Government of ‘disempowering’ Panchayats in the State and staged a walkout from Upper House here today.
Those who walked out from the Legislative Council include Ghulam Nabi Monga, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, Ali Mohammad Dar and Sham Lal Bhagat. Monga, who is the Congress MLC, had asked a question with regards to Panchayats but he termed the answers from Government as unsatisfactory.
In a written reply to the question of MLC Monga, the Minster Incharge, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, said the remuneration from January 2015 to March 2015 in favour of Panchs and Sarpanchs of both the divisions got lapsed due to the non-availability of MT at treasuries.
The Minister further said the remuneration in favour of Panchs and Sarpanchs for the period June 2011 to April 2013 has not been released and was not sanctioned for this period. The Government has denied that more than one person have been provided job-cards under MGNREGA and said that these cards are issued strictly as per the norms/ guidelines of the scheme.
In another reply, the Minister said the Panchayati Raj elections shall be conducted by Chief Electoral Officer of the State for 2016 elections and not under Election Commission. “An amendment in this effect in Section 36, Act number 2 of 1989 has also been made,” said the Minister.
However, the Government’s reply didn’t satisfy Monga and three other MLCs and they accused Government of disempowering Panchayats in the State. Monga in his supplementary question said that the Panchayat members have been deprived of powers in 14 departments.
Monga sought the answer from RDD and Panchayati Raj Minister Abdul Haq Khan with regard to holding of Panchayat polls in the State. The Minister in his reply said that the Government is ‘committed’ to hold these polls this year. However, Monga took exception of Government’s decision to hold polls under Chief Electoral Officer. “Election Commission has already been incorporated, why CEO?”.
Monga and three MLCs termed the answers from Minister unsatisfactory and in protest they staged walkout from the House even as Chairman Anayat Ali tried to pacify them. However, after around 20 minutes they again walked in.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel