Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangthan (RGPRS) has declared to launch block and district level agitation in protest against the decision of BJP-PDP Government on indirect election of Sarpanches.
Addressing a press conference here today, PCC general secretary and convenor RGPRS, Shahnawaz Choudhary said that Congress strongly opposes the undemocratic decision of this Government. He said the present Government has been trying to weaken the Panchayati Raj institutions in the State. He said the RGPRS has been strongly opposing this move and also launched awareness campaign in the State. Now it has been decided to launch State wide agitation.
Shahnawaz, who was accompanied by convenor and co-convenor of Jammu province Pankaj Basotra and Paramjit Singh besides others said that during last month an intensive campaign was launched in all the districts of Jammu province and also held interactions with Sarpanches and Panches and took their feedback regarding holding the indirect elections of Sarpanches and non-implementation of 73rd amendment in which majority of the Sarpanches / Panches and people in general showed their resentment against the decision of the Government. He said that Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan has decided to oppose the decision of Government to hold indirect elections of Sarpanches which is the murder of democracy at grass-root level.
He disclosed that in first phase the RGPRS along with Sarpanches and Panches will hold protest at block headquarters from 10 January onwards and there after submit memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Block Development Officer of the concerned block. After covering all the blocks in the next phase they will protest at their district headquarters and if still their demand of holding the direct elections of Sarpanches and implementation of 73rd amendment is not considered, RGPRS will march towards Civil Secretariat for ‘Gherao’.
The PYC leader appealed all the Sarpanches, Panches and other organizations and people of the State to join hands and support Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan in this movement.
He said that PDP-BJP Govt is taking anti-people and anti-employee decisions. This Govt has no moral right to continue. He warned Chief Minister to take back the decision or face the anger of people of the State.
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