Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 20: Expre-ssing displeasure over the decision, ex-MLA and NPP president Balwant Singh Mankotia has cautioned the State Government that party will not allow Numberdars to become a scapegoat.
While participating in the convention of Numberdars at Kathua, Mankotia said that Govt is trying to curtail the basic rights of the democratic institution at ground level and Namberdars are the initial constituent of Panchayati Raj system.
NPP president claimed that in a well planned conspiracy, State Government by issuing an SRO has set 25 year minimum and 60 year as maximum age to become eligible for Numberdar while earlier there was no such criteria. Numberdars present in the convention also highlighted the problems being faced by them.
Mankotia informed that Government has also made it mandatory that Numberdar should be 8th pass and amazingly there is no such criteria for the post of Prime Minister. Honorarium provided to Numberdars of Rs 1500 per month is also a mockery with them as prices of daily need are so high, regretted Mankotia.
NPP president assured the Numberdars that his party will knock the doors of High Court to seek justice for them. Earlier in 1982 when the then Govt tried to erase the Numberdari system in State, NPP knocked the doors of High Court and reinstated the Numberdari system in State.
He reiterated that NPP will not allow any body to fiddle with the rights of the Numberdars and remain stand still with them. If there is no such criteria of age, education for MLAs, MPs and PM of the country, then why Government is hell bent to fix criteria for Numberdars to make them scapegoat, said Mankotia.
He also demanded that Government should provide monthly honorarium of Rs 10,000 in favour of Numberdars. On this occasion Advocate Balbir Singh, Advocate Appu Salathia also addressed the gathering.
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