3rd Day of Sarpanches’ Hunger Strike

3^rd Day of Sarpanches’  Hunger Strike

 

Left to Right: Sarpanch Raj Kumar, Anil Sharm and Ghulam Hassan Punzoo.

AJKPC Asks Congress Leader to Fulfil Promises

Charak visited Agitating  Sarpanches , Receives Memorandum for Sonia Gandhi

                  

 Jammu March 26, 2013 :   Even on 3^rd of day of 72-Hours Hunger Strike of Panchayat members under the banner of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, the state government remained silent on the issue and did not initiated  any dialogue process with the agitating Sarpanches. Though, today a team of government doctors conducted a medical health checkup of all the three Sarpanches including Anil Sharma, Ghulam Hassan Punzoo and Rajkumar who are sitting on hunger strike since 24^th of March. Though, today the agitating Sarpanches were feeling quite weak but they have decided to complete their 72 hours strike which would end tomorrow at 09:00 A.M in the morning.   

In a surprising development today the senior leader and Congress National Working Committee Member Gulchain Singh Charak visited the agitating Sarpanches and urged them to call of their hunger strike. Charak also criticized the J & K  government for its failure to give powers to the Panchayats. Senior Congress leader also shared the concern of the AKPC regarding Security of the Panchayat leaders, he said it is regretful that elected representatives of the people have to come on road and seek justice for them. In his address to the Panches and Sarpanches GS Charak also informed that today he has also met the Governor NN Vohra and have asked him to intervene in this serious issue of

security and empowerment of Panchayat Raj Institutions. On the question of implementation of 73^rd amendment of Constitution here in Jammu and Kashmir, he said his Party have always favoured and would do whatever require to implement it here. Shafiq Mir Chairman of AJKPC along with General Secretary Anil Sharma in presence of all other members of the organization also handed over a memorandum to Charak addressed to Sonia Gandhi, President Congress Party. In this memorandum the AJKPC have sought intervention of Madam Gandhi for Security and full empowerment of PRI’s in the state. Through this memorandum the AJKPC have reminded the congress party that Despite the fact that Congress is Partner of the state government since 2002, but it has not taken any step regarding the implementation of 73^rd amendment in the state which was not only the promise of Congress but a dream of Late Rajiv Gandhi Ji who wanted to empower Panchayats with this amendment. “Madam, it is very much unfortunate that despite being voted by 90% people of the state despite all risks, the Sarpanches and Panches of the state are on hunger strike. will die in the state for ever which will be biggest setback to the democracy in the state. 

 

 

The aim and objective of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference to go on hunger strike was only to remind your good self that all was not well in the state as the Delhi is briefed by the state establishment. At this moment we the Panchayat members who are the basic pillars of democracy feel that taking part in the Panchayat elections was not our good decision and the large number of Panchayat members in the state have already resigned and many more are ready to disassociate themselves from the institution which is almost defunct and useless “, The Memorandum states .

 

Congress President has also been apprised that the most and prime concern of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference is the security of Panchayat leaders in the state which has taken importance and essence after the recent Fidayeen attacks carried by militants in the state of Jammu and Kashmir on security forces and if immediate steps are not taken, the institution of Panchayats Earlier in the day a number of other delegations including social and political leaders paid visit to the fasting Panchayat members and appreciated their effort.

 

Panthers, SP, NCP lend support to AJKPC

 

Jammu March 26,2013 :   On third day of Sarpanches Hunger Strike of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference  here outside Press Club Jammu, a number of social activists, NGO Members, Human Rights activists and political parties leaders met the AJKPC leaders who are sitting on the fast and offered their support and cooperation.

Former Member Parliament and State president of Samajwadi party (SP) Shiekh Abdul Rehman during his visit offered his party fullest support to the All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference. He criticized the State Government for being so reluctant in empowering the Panchayats. While appreciating the Panchayat members for adopting a peaceful way of protest the former MP said he would take up the issue with his party’s high command and press that the genuine demands of the 33000 Panchayat representatives are given due consideration.

 

Former Minister and State president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Thakur Randhir Singh also blamed the Jammu and Kashmir government for deceiving the elected Panchayat representatives. Former minister said the state MLA’s and MLC’s should have debated this important issue in the house but unfortunately they don’t want to share power with the people at grass root level this is why they remained silent.

Anita Thakur, General Secretary of JKNPP, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party during her interaction with the fasting Panchayat members also extended her party’s support to the All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference. She assured the Sarpanches that NPP legislators would raise the issue in both houses of the house. All senior leaders and members of the executive committee of the AJKPC including its Chairman, Shafiq Mir, General Secretary Anil Sharma, Ghulam Hassan Punzoo, Spokesperson, Bimla Devi, President Women Wing, Gautam Singh, Provincial President, Jammu, , Basheer Malik, Provincial President Kashmir, Afzal Beig, Provincial Secretary Kashmir, Fayaz Ahmad Khanday, Alam Choudhary, , Tariq Ahmad, Sham Lal, Raj Kumar and Captain Raj Dev Singh  thanked the visiting delegates for their kind support to the Panchayat members.