Panchayati Raj Institutions need to be fully empowered .Soz

GNS Surinsar-Jammu, November 13: President J&K Pradesh Congress Committee Prof. Saifuddin Soz-MP (former Union Minister) has said that Congress is a vibrant force in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and it is the best opportunity to make it an instrument of service to the people. Addressing a largely attend public rally at Surinsar, JKPCC Chief Prof. Saifuddin Soz said that Congress is the only force which can keep the state together in view of its policies of secularism and equal respect for all sections of society, irrespective of caste, creed, color, religion and region. He said that the other political parties like BJP and others can not keep the state together because of their divisive and communal way of politics. Prof. Soz said that Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state need to be fully empowered so that these institutions become the effective instrument for service at the grass root level. That is why the 73rd and 74th Amendment needs to be implemented in the state and all those powers should be given to Panchayats which are necessary for making these institutions as effective instrument of local self government in democracy. He (Soz) asked the minister for Revenue Mr. Raman Bhalla who was present on the occasion to issue circular to all Deputy Commissioners asking them to issue necessary instruction to the officials and the administration to give due respect and weightage to the Surpanches and Panches when they visit government offices in connection with the various demands and to discharge of their duties entrusted by the electorates. Prof. Soz said that Congress party under the leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is taking the nation forward on all fronts and India has emerged as a big power in the World. He praised the leadership qualities of Mr. Rahul Gandhi who is following the foot print of Mahatma Gandhi in his desire to serve the people, especially the poor and downtrodden sections of society. He said that during the recent visit of Rahul Gandhi in the state he met with hundreds of people and listened to them. There is lot to be learnt from Rahul Gandhi’s way of service to people, as he is very transparent, democratic and straight. Quoting an example he said during a function a young worker complained about another young boy for misbehavior. The young worker was probably the son of a political leader of the party and asked him to apologized to the complaintent. Prof. Soz said that the wards of political leaders like MPs, MLAs, MLCs need to be more humble and decent because people watch them and expect a lot from them. The rally was organised by Th. Shiv Dev Singh-Ex-MLA and other local leaders who highlighted the problems of area including to give boost to tourism and other facilities. They thanked for the sanction of Degree College in the area. Senior Vice President JKPCC Pt. Mangat Ram Sharma-former Deputy CM in his address urged for due share and care to the problems of party workers. Others who spoke on the occasion were S/Shri Dharam Pal Sharma-Senior Vice President PCC, Madan Lal Sharma-MP, Vice Presidents PCC Th. Hari Singh, Yash Paul Khajuria-MLC; Ministers Raman Bhalla, R.S.Chib, Sham Lal Sharma; General Secretary & Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma-MLC, President Mahila Congress Smt. Indu Pawar-MLA, Kudip Verma-Vice Chairman OBC, President INTUC Shiv Kumar Sharma, President DCC Samba Prakash Sharma-Ex-MLA, Chuni Lal Bhat, Ashwani Puri, Vinod Mahajan, Kushal Wali, Narinder Gupta, Ravi Singh Salathia, Neeraj Gupta, Pritam Singh, Anil Sharma, Parnav Shagotra, Amit Chib, Sunil Singh & Shashi Sharma.