Panchayets up in arms against government We will launch an agitation if not empowered fully : Mir

Rajouri February7:Expressing their resentment and anguish 

over the attitude of state government in empowering Panchayets, large 

number of Srapnaches of border region of Poonch and Rajouri have 

threatened an agitation against the government if they were not 

empowered at par with other states of the country like Hamachel 

Pardesh and Rajisthaan . Demanding the implementation of 73rd 

amendment of Indian constitution in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, 

Sarpanches said that they don’t want such a public friendly act be 

made hostage of article 370 .  This they revealed in press conference 

organized at border district Rajouri on Tuesday .

Accompanied by large number of Panches and Sarpanches, Shafiq Mir 

Sarpanch Poshaana of border district Poonch said that they ( Panches 

and Sarpanches) were formulating a strategy to launch an agitation 

against what he called the callous attitude of state government 

towards basic democratic institutions . Shafiq Mir said that the 

present unrest in the state government is the result of the denial of 

democratic rights of the people in the state of Jammu and Kashmir . 

Reminding the cause of the present unrest, Mir said that in the 

similar fashion in 1987 when the democratic rights of the people were 

crushed by the same coalition government, the people came on streets 

with guns and demanded the things out of constitution . “ We the 

Panchayet members were not demanding some thing like moon . We are 

demanding only the implementation of Indian constitution in the state 

of Jammu and Kashmir . But unfortunately,  we are being denied this

right too”, said Mir adding that its implications may prove dangerous 

for the state .  “ If you have not given democratic rights of the 

people no body in the state will ever take part in any such democratic 

activity”, he said 

Shafiq Mir further said that they have come to know that government 

has formulated a committee of MLAs and MLCs which has been asked to 

prepare a draft bill in which Members of Legislative Assembly and 

Councils will be given powers of interference in the Panchayet affairs 

 He warned that if any such step was taken by the government the 

Panchayets may go for an agitation in the state and its consequences 

will prove dangerous . “ We are unable to understand that what sort of 

more powers they want ?. Members of assembly and council are already 

possessing  1 Cr as constituency development fund which is spent on 

their consent and directions . The district Plan and state plans are 

approved and proposed by these members . Not only this, for their 

personal expenses , the government pays they at least one Lakh monthly 

salary to each member . In addition to it , the members get TAs and 

Das . What else they want?”, he questioned . 

Replying to a question Sarpanches termed  Chief Minister Omar 

Abdullah, a week leader saying that in fact chief minister has 

succumbed before the pressure of the members and he was deviating from 

his own announcements and promises made with the Panchayets . Directly 

addressing to CM, Mir said , “ Omar Sahib your statements and promises 

made to the panchayets are on record and  you should take a stand like

a leader . You have already failed in fulfilling various promises and 

your words were loosing credibility day by day . You must full fill 

your promises with the Panchayets”. 

Demanding the full implementation of the Jammu Kashmir Panchayet act 

at the earliest and implementation of 73 Indian constitution regarding 

Panchayeti Raj in  the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Sarpanches 

warned that if any further delay was made by the government in 

establishing the three tier   Panchayeti Raj syatem in the state they 

will launch an agitation . The Sarpanches also blamed Congress for 

double speak saying that the party raises the issue of 73rd amendment 

out side the house but has not brought any resolution in this regard 

in the state assembly . The Sarpanches also announced to constitute a 

special team which will meet Congress general Secy Rahul Gandhi at 

Delhi and he will be apprised about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir

 Holding opposition parties particularly PDP equally responsible for 

conspiring against Panchayets, the Sarpnaches said that this 

organization was also paying double. “ Like Congress they are also 

issuing one statement out side the house and working shoulder to 

shoulder inside the house against Panchayets”. They said , had the PDP 

been sincere it would have not joined the committee formulated by 

government witn an aim to dilute the powers of Panchayets .   Other 

prominents who spoke to press were  Abdul Qayoom Naik, Sarpanch 

Behrote, Haji Mohammad Riaz Sarpanch Rajdhani , Haji Mirza Mian Lal 

Sarpanch Lah, Haji Miza Mohammad Zamaan Sarpanch Bhatian , Munir 

Hussain Bhati Sarpanch Khablan, Mohammad Farid Naib Sarpanch

Chandimarh  and Naresh Singh Sarpnch from Sunderbani .