Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 12: National Conference and Congress, the two coalition partners, were gradually heading toward consensus on the provisions of 73rd amendment of the Constitution of India to be adopted in the State Panchayati Raj Act.
In second meeting of the Core Group of two alliance partners in as many days, prominent leaders of both political parties today discussed threadbare the 73rd amendment of the Constitution of India and its provisions, which could be adopted in the State Panchayati Raj Act.
The Core Group met for second consecutive day today in Srinagar to discuss the provisions of 73rd amendment to empower Panchayats in best possible way.
The Core Group comprised Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, Industries and Commerce Minister Surjit Singh Slathia and Political Advisor to Chief Minister Devender Rana, all from National Conference, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma, GA Mir, former Minister and MLA, Ravinder Sharma, MLC and Bashir Ahmad Magray, PCC (I) vice president, all from Congress.
Sources said the Core Group could hold some more rounds of meetings in the next few days to finally reach at the consensus after consulting their party high commands, reliable sources said, adding that if possible the Group might even meet tomorrow despite busy schedule of political leadership in Srinagar due to visit of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
“Largely, a breakthrough has been achieved. Both parties were unanimous that majority provisions of 73rd amendment had to be adopted in the State Panchayati Raj Act if this amendment was not to be implemented directly. All those provisions of 73rd amendment, which were in the interest of the State and the Panchayats would be implemented”, reliable sources said, adding that the leaders of coalition partners, who formed the Core Group, were in regular touch with high command of their political parties.
They asserted that only when the high command of the two political parties agreed to the points approved by the Core Group that a draft would be prepared for carrying out amendments in the State Panchayati Raj Act to make it almost at par with 73rd amendment of the Constitution of India.
Sources said the Core Group members have threadbare discussed the provisions of 73rd amendment of the Constitution of India in the two meetings. The points, which could be incorporated in the State Panchayati Raj Act from the 73rd amendment, were discussed and debated.
Both the coalition partners were heading towards consensus on the major points from 73rd amendment of the Constitution of India, which could be incorporated in the State Panchayati Raj Act, sources said, adding that the amendments would be carried out in the next session of the Legislature.
Both the partners have also agreed for reservations to SCs/STs and women in third tier of the Panchayati Raj elections i.e. the District Development and Planning Board. There was also consensus on reservations in the Block Development Councils by way of nominations, the provisions for which existed in the Act. Under the Act, the Government can nominate two SCs, two STs and two women in the BDCs if they were not adequately represented in the Councils.
Sources said the Core Group was unanimous on more meetings till a final draft on the major areas of 73rd amendments to be incorporated in the State Panchayati Raj Act was prepared.
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