Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 27: Former Minister and National Panthers Party MLA from Ramnagar Harsh Dev Singh has accused the Coalition Government in the State of sabotaging the empowerment of Panchayats under a well hatched conspiracy.
Reacting to the statement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that two Congress Ministers and some MLAs from the same party who approached him, opposed the empowerment of Panchayats, Mr Singh said contrarily, the Congress and the PYC activists have taken stand that NC was against the empowerment of Panchayats.
Mr Singh pointed out that role of Congress was highly intriguing and mischievous, as it was though demonstrating on roads and holding protests for Panchayats’ cause it had never raked up the issue at any other appropriate forum. Interestingly, both the coalition partners are indulging in blame game with the avowed common objective of depriving elected Sarpanchs and Panchs of their legitimate rights and the powers envisaged under law.
“Prof Soz himself is a mature politicians and knows that such decisions are not taken by protesting on roads and or issuing statements merely for media consumption. When I moved amendment in the Assembly on Panchayati Raj Act last time, not even single Congress Minister of MLA supported it and now they are protesting on roads and issuing merely statements. It shows the real face of Congress Party which stood exposed with the statement of CM and its blame game and double standards”, Mr Singh maintained.
NPP leader also flayed the Government for depriving Panchayat members of their honorarium and emoluments. He said that Section 10 of the Panchayati Raj Act provides for payment of monthly honorarium to elected Sarpanchs along with sitting fee to be paid to Panchs. Section 79 of the PR Act provides for payment of honorarium / sitting fee to the members of Panchayat Adalats.
Referring to UBL polls, Mr Singh alleged that these elections were delayed by 30 long months as it was due in early 2010. Government seems to be non-serious on holding ULB elections and its claims are merely hollow slogans. He said delay of these elections has deprived State of the Central funding worth over hundreds of crores. He regretted that both NC and Congress were taking highly incongruous stand only to hoodwink the Panchayats and to ensure their deprivation and empowerment.
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