Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Oct 25: District Congress Committee (DCC) president for Kathua and former MLA Billawar, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma has demanded restoration of statehood to J&K, regularization of Daily Rated Workers (DRWs) and withdrawal of restrictions at Lakhanpur for all.
Talking to media-persons here today, Dr Sharma said that statehood to Jammu and Kashmir should be restored with full protection of jobs and land rights. He said demotion of J&K from State to UT is widely criticized at all the platforms. Today again, all have pitched for statehood for Jammu in order to remove regional discrimination. Dr Sharma lambasted local BJP leadership for cheating the nationalist people of Jammu and questioned local BJP leadership for keeping mum on J&K issues.
The Ex-MLA further said that recent Home Ministry’s order No:3654 (E) of 2020 is totally against the basic spirit of Panchayati Raj Act and 73rd and 74th amendment of Constitution of India. It violates four things of the above mentioned act. Bypassing the Block Development Council and its chairperson, duly elected by the BDC elections happened recently.No role has been defined in the proposed District Development Council, particularly with regard to voting rights to elect chairman and vice chairman of DDC. As mentioned in the act 20% of the allocated funds will go directly to DDC and 80 percent will be in the hands of Panchayats and no funds will be available to Block Development Councils. It weakens the grass root level Panchayati Raj institutions in rural areas as well as Urban Local Bodies, he added.
He further demanded regularization of all types of daily rated/ consolidated workers and extended support to all the employees’ unions and associations which are on strike.
Sharma also spoke against Agriculture Bills passed by Modi Govt recently and termed them anti-farmer. He demanded cancellation of Fire Services selection list and holding of high level probe into the matter. Dr Manohar Lal also demanded lifting of restrictions at Lakhanpur and allowing free movement to all.
Former minister further pointed out that BJP Government established three Toll Plazas within a distance of 110 kms from Lakhanpurto Ban.This is against the guidelines of NHAI to establish three toll plazas in Lakhanpur, Sarore and Ban. He demanded withdrawal of these Toll Plazas.
He was accompanied by several other senior DCC Kathua members.
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