Sagar holds PDP responsible for killing of Panchayat members

Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Oct 3: Holding People’s Democratic Party (PDP) responsible for the killing of Sarpanch and Naib Sarpanch in Baramulla district, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar today said that the killings were orchestrated by the party in order to garner support from the people.
Replying to the discussion on the killing of Naib Sarpanch at Nowpora-Sangrama in Baramulla district in the Legislative Council, Sagar said that PDP has grown jealous over the popularity of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after the successful completion of the Panchayat elections last year. He said that the elections were held after a gap of 38 years adding that this has not gone well with the PDP.
The resolution for discussion was moved by PDP legislator Murtaza Khan.
“Don’t force me to speak out openly as it would expose you to the common masses. The Sarpanch and Naib Sarpanch were killed at Palhallan-Pattan and Nowpora-Sangrama. These areas are represented by PDP legislators in the Assembly and killings were carried out so that people are sympathetic towards PDP. Both the Sarpanch and Naib Sarpanch were sympathizers of National Conference and the government has sympathy with both the families,” said Sagar.
He accused PDP of scoring political points on the issue of empowerment of Panchayats in the State. He said the State Government has taken many steps for the empowerment of the Panchayats. He added that the process is going on and many more steps would be taken for the empowerment of the Panchayats.
“Kuch log CM Sahib Kee Shuhrat se jalte hain. Kisi ko agar mirchi lagti hai to main kya karoun. If reality is ugly please accept it. Fact of the matter is that people at the state as well as national level have appreciated efforts of Omar Abdullah in successfully holding of the Panchayat elections. This has not come to the liking of the PDP and they want to sabotage this whole process. Maybe the killing of Sarpanch and Naib Sarpanch is a part of the same process,” said Sagar.
He said that two persons identified as Nisar Ahmad Ganai and Nisar Molvi have been arrested in connection with the killing of Naib Sarpanch at Nowpora-Sangrama. He said the investigations would be taken to the logical conclusion and stern action would be taken against the killers.
“There are some people who want to rule with the help of gun. These elements don’t want peace to flourish and their sole motive is to create disturbance in the state. But we are committed to safeguard the interests of the people and it would be ensured that these forces are defeated,” said Sagar.
He said that state government is duty bound to provide security to the Panchs and Sarpanchs adding that a PSO can be provided to Sarpanch provided he/she lives under constant threat. He said night patrolling has been intensified with night domination also being taken up by the police and security forces. He said Nakas have also been established in the villages so that Panchs and Sarpanchs don’t feel terrified.
“We never linked the issue of holding the Panchayat elections with the Kashmir issue. Time and again we have made it clear that Panchayat elections have been held for addressing the administrative issues of the people living in rural areas. It is important that flagship programmes announced by the Central Government for the rural areas reach the people through the Panchayats,” said Sagar.
He accused the PDP of diluting the powers of the Panchayats and said that the party brought a bill in this respect in the assembly in 2005. He said PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh resigned as chairman of the committee formed to empower the Panchayats after one of the members Mir Saifullah objected at the venue of the first meeting of the committee.
Sagar said that two Sarpanchs identified as Ghulam Mohammad Dar resident of Qaimoh-Kulgam and Ghulam Mohammad Yatoo resident of Palhallan-Pattan were killed along with the Naib Sarpanch Mohammad Shafi Teli resident of Nowpora Jagir-Sangrama in different incidents. He said that Sarpanch Ishfaq Ahmad Poswal of Kellar-Shopian, Sarpanch Abdul Salam Malik of Ponzu-Tral and Sarpanch Qutub-ud-din of Nowdal-Tral were injured in different incidents.
While Sagar was replying, Murtaza Khan objected to some of the remarks and said that Sagar is using un-parliamentary language. He asked the minister to set the record straight and sought the intervention of Chairman Legislative Council, Amrit Malhotra.
Murtaza took a dig at the government and said that the holding of the Panchayat elections was termed as a big success by the Government. He said Chief Minister and some other Ministers said that the militancy has been wiped out with the successful holding of Panchayat elections.
Murtaza said that the Panchayati Raj system has been turned into a redundant system by the State Government adding that no powers have been given to Panchs and Sarpanchs. He said the State Government has not taken the subsequent steps for real empowerment of the Panchayats in the State.
Ajay Sadhotra of National Conference and Jugal Kishore of Congress also took part in the discussion.

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