* AJKPC’s hunger strike enters 4th day
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 6: Elected Sarpanchs and Panchs today staged a strong protest and torched the effigies of all Members of Parliament (MPs) from Jammu and Kashmir for their `criminal silence’ on the non-payment of MGNREGA liabilities and other issues concerning Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
The protestors raised slogans against all MPs from J&K and questioned them for remaining silent on the ongoing hunger strike of Panchayat members under the banner of All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC). Click here to watch video
Led by Sarpanch Ram Saroop Sharma, the protest was held in support of AJKPC’s hunger strike spearheaded by its president, Anil Sharma at Dogra Chowk in Jammu.
“It is unfortunate and shameful that our representatives in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have maintained a total ‘criminal silence’ in the ongoing session of Parliament on the sensitive issue of non-clearance of MGNREGA liabilities since 2014. All of them have turned a deaf ear towards the problems being faced by poor labourers who executed works under MGNREGA Scheme but did not get their wages even after the lapse of three to four years,” Sharma said.
He said all MPs should realise the sensitivity of the matter and must understand that they have been voted to Parliament by the rural masses.
“They should not forget that they have been representing their respective constituencies only because of the rural masses who voted in their favour but they now have been taking the people for granted by not raising their issues in the Parliament. They owe an explanation to the people as to why they have remained silent on the mounting MGNREGA liabilities,” Balbir Singh, Sarpanch and Block Development Council chairman said.
Another Sarpanch S. Harjeet Singh also took a dig at the MPs from Jammu and Kashmir and asked them to take up the issue in the Parliament so that they poor labourers and mates, who expended money on developmental works, are paid their dues immediately.
Meanwhile, the ongoing 168-hour-long hunger strike started by the elected Panchayat members under the leadership of AJKPC state president Anil Sharma against the non-payment of RDD liabilities and security issue entered the 4th consecutive day today.
The Sarpanchs and Panchs from various parts of Kashmir Valley and Jammu division continued their hunger strike at Dogra Chowk and raised noisy slogans against the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
Meanwhile, former minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla today joined the protest of Panchayat Members at Dogra Chowk and accorded full support to their cause.
Pradesh Youth Congress led by Uday Chib has also accorded full support to the AJKPC members who are sitting on hunger strike for the last four days at Dogra Chowk. Chib said that Govt must address the genuine and justified issues of the Panchayat members.
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