Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: The former Union Minister and MLA, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta has urged upon the State Governor to see that his pronouncements are translated into actions. In this regard, he particularly referred to the promise about empowering the basic democracies including the Panchayats and local bodies and pointed out despite repeated promises little practical has been there on the ground.
Commenting upon the Republic Day message of the Governor N N Vohra, Prof. Gupta recalled that in his address to joint session of both the Houses of the Legislature in very first session of the present Assembly in 2009, It was promised that the 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Indian Constitution would be applied to empower the Panchayats and the local bodies.
It was also announced that the elections to these basic democracies would be held soon after the Lok Sabha polls. But since then little had been done to have the Panchayati Raj except holding the Panchayat polls of first tier. The remaining process still remain confined merely to loud talking. Moreover, the elections to the local bodies are being repeatedly postponed, so much so, even the electoral rolls have not been prepared in a fair manner. These are faulty and full of mistakes. The proper delimitation of the Wards still remains a dream.
Prof. Gupta said that the ruling leaders are still dragging their feet about empowerment of the Panchayats in conformity with the 73rd Amendment and there is no move as yet to have extension of the 74th Amendment to have empowerment of the local bodies.
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