PDP rebuts NC charge

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 10/2/2012 12:17:06 AM

Mehbooba displays endorsed bill on Panchayats

SRINAGAR, Oct 1: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today displayed her party’s bill on Panchayat empowerment duly endorsed by secretary Legislative Assembly.
On Saturday last, National Conference had accused PDP playing politics over the issue of Panchayats. Ali Mohammad Sagar, senior National Conference leader and Minister for law and parliamentary affairs had told media that PDP has not submitted any bill on Panchayat empowerment.
The NC spokesman Tanvir Sadiq on the same day had said, “The Speaker has a right to reject anything after the stipulated time but even then according to our reports no bill has been received by the Legislative Assembly from any PDP member with regard to the Panchayats.”
As today’s assembly session was over, Mehbooba while talking to media persons outside the Legislative Assembly complex, showed her party’s bill on empowerment of Panchayat with initials of secretary legislative assembly.
The PDP president expressed apprehension that government may sabotage the bill because of its “non serious” approach towards empowerment of Panchayat Raj system in the state.
“You can see the initials of the secretary Legislative Assembly. The bill is duly endorsed by him and has been listed on September 18 for the process,” Mehbooba said while showing the signed bill to reporters.
She said the bill was brought by two PDP MLAs from Shangus and Pahalgam Peerzada Mansoor Hussain and Rafi Ahmad Mir but unfortunately the government is denying the same. Mehbooba rebutted the National Conference allegations saying the bill endorsed by secretary Legislative Assembly was ‘a proof enough that ruling NC is leveling false and frivolous allegations against her party.’
“We have moved this bill seeking to strengthen the J&K Panchayat Raj Act,” she told media persons, adding the bill contains all the features of the 73rd amendment of Indian Constitution.
The incorporation of all the features of the 73rd amendment would make Panchayats independent vis-à-vis planning and execution of development works and utilisation of funds, she remarked. The PDP president added that besides other amendments, her party wants the chairmen and vice chairmen of the District Development and Planning Boards be duly elected and not nominated by the government.
On September 26, Mehbooba had urged Congress to support the smooth passage of PDP bill on empowerment of Panchayats in the ongoing Assembly session. Mehbooba had blamed the state government for its “failure” to empower Panchayats on the ground. “The much hyped Panchayat elections and often repeated statements by the present government about their empowerment has become a cruel joke for the people who participated in these elections,” she remarked while addressing a press conference on September 26.

 

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