Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Apr 15: Expressing his serious concern over arrogant attitude of the National Conference led coalition regime for not delegating powers to the Panchayats, patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayed today ridiculed demand of Congress leaders to extend 73rd and 74th amendments of the Indian Constitution in the State.
“Congress leaders have been demanding extension of these two amendments in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions but party (Congress), which is part of the Government, has failed to even convince its coalition partner to conduct elections of Block and District Samities of Panchayati Raj Institutions”, Mr Sayeed said while addressing one day convention of party workers at Kathua under state law.
He said that delay in constituting Block and District Committees was a clear indication that this regime, with “dictatorial mindset,” was not interested in strengthening democratic institutions in the State.
“Almost one year has been passed after completion of the Panchayat elections but Block and District Committees are yet to be constituted because the Government was not interested to empower and strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State”, he said, adding, “I do not know at which capacity the Congress leaders have been demanding extension of 73rd and 74th amendments because they are equally responsible for eroding sanctity of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State”, the former Chief Minister said.
Coming down heavily on coalition regime for undermining all democratic institutions, Mufti reminded that civic bodies elections, which were due in the month of February 2010, have been delayed with one or other excuse. “The Government, even in the Governor’s Address this year, had promised to complete the process of civic bodies elections by the end of April this year but it has renegade the promise”, he pointed out and added that during the last three years this regime has eroded and undermined all prestigious democratic institutions be it Assembly, local bodies or Panchayati Raj Institutions.
“With its assiduous efforts, the PDP had restored peoples’ faith in the democracy but the present Government headed by NC is brazenly trying to undermine the democratic institutions”, Mr Sayeed said and cautioned that such “authoritarian attitude” adopted by the coalition regime would be proved disastrous for the State. He reminded that infamous 1987 rigged Assembly elections had badly shattered peoples’ faith in the democratic system.
The PDP patron while hailing recent decisions of India and Pakistan to dismantle all trade barriers and ease visa restrictions, Mufti said that Indo-Pak bonhomie at Wagha border was result of the pro-peace policies being initiated by the PDP.
He said that PDP has pioneered a political and economic agenda to establish sustainable peace in the subcontinent. “Establishing lasting peace and to consolidate the reconciliation process is on the top of the agenda of PDP “, Mr Sayeed said, adding, “Our party, through its pro-peace policies, has consolidated reconciliation process and facilitated the efforts of establishing peace in this region.
While reminding party workers about the historic rally on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Srinagar on April 18, 2003 where he (Vajpayee) had extended hands of friendship towards Pakistan despite tension on border, Mr Sayeed said that historic event was the beginning of the era of peace in this region and credit for this goes the PDP.
“Beginning of cross-LoC trade, the opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads are noticeable achievements of PDP”, he said and added that present UPA regime headed by Dr Manmohan Singh has also supported the pro-peace policies of PDP. He further mentioned that prevailing peace all along the borders from Kathua to Kargil was result of the reconciliatory policy pioneered and propagated by the PDP.
He asserted that biggest achievements of PDP was that it has created conducive atmosphere for initiating peace process and taking the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to normalize relations between India and Pakistan.
Responding to the demands raised by party workers, PDP patron assured that their demands would be effectively taken up by the party.
Trilok Singh Bajwa, Daman Bhasin, Hussain Ali Wafa, Falail Singh, Suresh Sharma, Nizam-ud -din Khatana, Surinder Singh, Abjeet Jasrotia, Narinder Singh Raina, Digvijay Singh, Vinod Gupta, Guru Parshad, Nirmal Kishore, Jodh Singh, Jagdish Singh, Doulat Ram, Mohammed Rafi, Joginder Singh, Manohar Singh, Randeep Jasrotia, Pradeep Sambyal, Rouf, Swarandeep Singh, Neeraj Sharma and others also addressed the meeting.
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