Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 23: Accusing successive regimes of betrayal and exploitation, the Panchayat members today protested against Government in Shopian district.
Under the banner of Panch and Sarpanch Association Shopian and Pulwama, the Panchayat members held a meet at Circuit House followed by a protest against “denial of rights and power”. On the occasion, the Panchayat members said they will approach Supreme Court if the Government failed to deliver its promises.
“The erstwhile NC-Congress Government and current regime have miserably failed. Our people and our Panchayats have been exploited…the previous regime made repeated promises but betrayed us time and again. And, while in Opposition, Mufti Sayeed also made promises with us but despite being in the Government now, we have been sidelined, ignored and exploited,” said Nazir Ahmad Bandana, the president of Panch and Sarpanch Association.
Bandana said the Panchayat members were deprived of funds and power by successive regimes and were made scapegoats.
“The Government did injustice with us… none of our demands were met. Our dignity has been washed away. We can’t go to our constituencies and wards because people had expectations from us but the Government did not gave us any authority,” he said, adding: “As a result, our panchs were killed and humiliated.
From last four years, they don’t stay in their houses. They have no honour and no dignity,” he said.
“So in this regard, we are doing a new beginning. For this, we are assembling our people from across State. We will talk to our people. We will contact Government…,” he said, adding: “In next two months, we will force Government to accept our demands or else we will go to Supreme Court.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel