Non empowering of panchayats: Youth Cong threatens agitation

SYED YASIR. Dated: 9/13/2012 12:32:25 AM

SRINAGAR, Sep 12: The State Youth Congress today threatened block level agitation against Omar Abdullah led coalition government if the panchayats were not empowered at the earliest. It also announced to hand over a memorandum to governor N N Vohra for empowering the panchayats.
Addressing a joint press conference here, National Secretary Youth Congress and Kashmir incharge, Chetan Partap Singh and President of State Youth Congress, Mohammad Shahnawaz Choudhary, alleged that chief minister Omar Abdullah has miserably failed to empower panchayats on the pattern of 73rd and 74th amendments in India constitution.
“During the block level agitation, protests, seminars and information campaign would be started to inform the Sarpanches and Panches about their genuine rights so that they too join the agitation against state government,” he said.
Singh also added that a memorandum would be handed over to governor seeking extension of 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in state Panchayat Raj act.
He also said that Congress ministers, MLAs and senior leaders of the party will also be approached to implement the resolutions passed for empowering panchayats during the delegates’ session at SKICC few months back.
“During the delegation session, an important resolution was passed in presence of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Prof Soz and other senior leaders of the party,” the youth leaders said.
Claiming that they enjoy the support of Congress high command, the youth leaders said chief minister should not be under this misconception that “ we are alone in our struggle.” The entire Congress high command from New Delhi to state JKPCC are backing the agitation. Our fight will only end when the genuine demands of the Congress party are fulfilled,” Singh said.
Shahnawaz demanded that chief minister must come out with a white paper if he has already given powers to the Panchayats. “Panchayats have not been empowered,” he said.
The youth president also said that their coalition partner, National Conference, is showing a rigid attitude towards empowering of panchayats.
Shahnawaz said that despite several requests by Congress party to chief minister and rural development minister, no headway has been made in this direction.
Amir Rasool, another Youth leader, said that Sarpanches and Panches are resigning to save themselves from humiliation of government officials. He said, “This is not Panchayat Raj in Jammu and Kashmir. This is bureaucratic and gunda Raj in the state.”

 

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