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Soz meets Guv, leaving for Delhi to meet party high command

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 10/10/2012 11:21:09 PM

Cong’s campaign for adopting of 73rd amendment gains momentum

SRINAGAR, Oct 10: In an important development PCC chief Prof Saif-u-Din Soz today met governor N N Vohra to brief him about his party’s stand for adopting the provisions of 73rd amendment of Indian constitution in the state to empower Panchayats.
Giving details, a spokesman of PCC in a statement said, “Among other things he ( Prof Soz) apprised governor of the consensus in the Congress party on adoption of the provisions of 73rd Amendment of Constitution of India. He also apprised Shri.Vohra that this consensus was organized through discussions at various levels in the party such as J&K Congress legislature party followed by the meeting of party functionaries in Kashmir province and party functionaries in Jammu province respectively.”
“Finally, apart from keeping Congress Party’s interest in view, it was unanimously decided that Congress party must adhere to its resolve that since 73rd Amendment of Constitution of India alone can empower Panchayat Institutions at the grass roots level, its provisions must be adopted. Congress Party also decided that it must remain firm on rejection of the system of nomination in the Panchayati Raj system, at all levels,” PCC spokesman added.
He said Prof Soz is leaving for Delhi to apprise the party high command of the consensus within the J&K Pradesh Congress at all levels, on the questions of adoption of provisions of 73rdAmendment of Constitution of India.
The meeting between Soz and governor was held in the backdrop of chief minister Omar Abdullah and his uncle and additional general secretary of National Conference (NC) Dr Mustafa Kamal rejecting Soz’s demand to adopt the 73rd amendment in J&K Panchayati Raj Act. However, law minister Ali Mohammad Sagar recently told assembly that the government was ready to incorporate the “good provisions” of 73rd amendment. He also sought the cooperation of PDP and Congress in empowering Panchayats.
Earlier, Soz had also sought the intervention of AICC Rahul Gandhi into the matter. Rahul while speaking at a recent Panchayat conference here admitted that Panchayats were powerless in the state but opined that empowering them is upto the people of the state. Panchches and sarpanches protested against AICC helplessness to intervene and walked out of the conference.