GNS Jammu, April 29: Charging National Conference led coalition regime with eroding sanctity of all democratic institutions, patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohamamd Sayeed today rejected the logic given by the government for delaying the process of empowering Panchyati Raj Institutions in the State.
“Almost one year has been passed after completion of the Panchayat elections but neither Block nor District Committees have been constituted so far. Instead of constituting these committees the government has been brazenly giving one after another excuse for undermining Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State”, Mr Sayeed said while addressing a public meeting at village Kot in Raipur-Domana assembly. In this meeting a large number of Panchayat members and retired bureaucrats joined PDP.
In an obvious reference towards excuse given by the government in delaying the process of strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions, Mr Sayeed said that elections of four Legislative Council seats, reserved for Panchayat members, have nothing to do with constituting Block and District Committees. “Empowering Panchayats and conducting elections of Legislative Council seats are two separate things and there is no reason for the government to delay empowerment of Panchayats by taking excuse of Legislative Council elections”, he observed and regretted that government’s intention was not clear on strengthening Panchayats. “It is not the question of implementing 73rd or 74thamendments but the real issue is delegating powers to the Panchayats like other parts of the country to make Panchayati Raj Institutions strengthen in Jammu and Kashmir”, he said but hastened to add that government was not interested to strengthen democratic institutions at grass root level and rather indulged in deceit tactics to hoodwink the people.
He also took the Congress to task for not taking serious steps to strengthening Panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir. “Although the Congress is part of the government but the party has failed convince its coalition partner to maintain sanctity of democratic institutions”, he regretted, adding, “except giving statements Congress leadership has done nothing in this regard”.
Mr Sayeed reminded that it was during the PDP led regime that elections of the Urban Local Bodies were held and democratic character of these bodies was restored. “It was all due to the commitment of the PDP to strengthen democratic institutions that elections of the Urban Local Bodies were held after a gap of more than two decades”, he said and added that an honorarium was fixed for the elected representatives of Urban Local Bodies to give them honour and respect. “PDP led regime had maintained democratic character of the Urban Local Bodies by delegating adequate powers to these bodies and by recognizing role of elected representatives in the functioning these bodies”, he said.
He, however, expressed his anguish that present regime has failed to even conduct election of the Urban Local Bodies which were due in the month of February 2010. “For the last more than two years, this government has been delaying Urban Local Bodies elections with one or other excuse just to control these bodies through undemocratic means”, he said and added that during the last three years this regime has undermined all prestigious democratic institutions be it Assembly, Urban Local Bodies or Panchayati Raj Institutions.
He further mentioned that it was during the regime of PDP that equal treatment was given to all regions and sub-regions of the State. “Our Government had carved out a path of equitable development in the State”, he said and mentioned that functioning of the government was streamlined by bringing transparency and accountability in the government. He pointed out that recruitment process was institutionalized to ensure fair selections.
He, however, regretted that present dispensation has failed to bring transparency and accountability in the government and the government has been adopting pick and choose policy in sanctioning funds for developmental activities. He especially mentioned that instead of treating all regions equally, the government was discriminating different areas in allotting model villages.
Responding to the demands raised by local people, Mr Sayeed that his party would take up these demands at appropriate platform their rederessal.
In the public meeting, Chaman Lal, M L Kalotra, Jagdish Raj, Behari Lal Shatri along with large number of their supporters joined PDP.
Trilok Singh Bajwa, Thakur Balbir Singh, Ved Mahajan, Hussain Ali Bafa, Suram Singh Chib, Rajinder Manhas, Suresh Sharma, Anil Gour, Vikram Singh, Parbhakar Singh, Sarpanch, Ajay Singh Sarpanch, Prem Singh, Ashok Bhat, R K Pardeshi and other leaders addressed the meeting.
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