AJKPC hold protests demonstration against RDD

Huge Liability of MGNREGA Workers

Jammu, 29/Dec/2016: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference today organized a massive protest demonstration here at main chowk of Vijaypur town in district Samba against the Rural Development department for their failure in clearing the liabilities running in several crores of works done under MGNREGA.

The protestors alleged that though the union government has released funds to the state government for clearing the MGNREGA liabilities running in several crores but the rural development department deliberately not clearing them just to utilized the interest amount of the funds deposited in the accounts of the rural development department.

Shouting slogans against the J & K Rural Development department, Anil Sharma, president of the organization said ‘ Depriving poor MGNREGA labors  and petty dealers (cost of material) of their due is criminal act, the concerned minister and senior officers sitting in the civil secretariat should pay attention to the miseries of these poor people, they are not asking for charity but demanding what is lawfully theirs’.

 He also hinted to take the matter to the labour court or higher judicial forums if the rural development continues to deny the poor labor their dues.

Already the Jammu and Kashmir government is amongst the state that pays lowest to its MGNREGA workers and even in this meager amount of  Rs. 173/day, the Babus seek a cut which is not only shameful but a crime against humanity. He said neighboring state  of  Haryana pays Rs 259/day labor to its MGNREGA workers , Punjab Rs. 218 but only the poor villagers of this Himalayan state are denied this minimum amount after Jharkhand, Sikkim and Nagaland.

The protesters also demanded enhancement of wages under MGNREGA labors working in the state citing rising inflation in which the workers are unable to feed their family and send their children to Schools and Colleges.

It is pertinent to mention here that as per the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employee Gurantee Act, MGNREGA there is also provision of setting up of MGNRGA Court to be called as Ombudsman but due to insincerity of the state administration, the process of appointment of Ombudsman could not see the light of the day. These ombudsman are authorized to take up the issue of non-payment or any other arbitration required in the MGNREGA workers.

Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion and addressed the protest include  Gotam singh jamwal provincial president of AJKPC, Jammu, Sarpanch  Raman Singh salthia, sarpanch  Ram pal  Sharma, sarpanch  sarpanch Raman  Sharma,  sarpanch Jagdish  singh Salathia,  sarpanch Vijay tagotra  sarpanch  Jagram Sharma sarp Dewan  khajuria sarpanch omkar sharma sarpanch  pawan, satpal sharma sarpanch hari dutt and others.

Sd/-

Anil Sharma,

AJKPC, President.

9419186510.

          

Panchayat Election Exercise a Joke without Security, Empowerment reflects : AJKPC

Panchayat Members are left at the mercy of Terrorists: AJKPC

AJKPC Anguished over Frequent Attacks on Panchayat Members

Jammu, 28/Dec16: Taking up very strongly against the Jammu and Kashmir government for their complete silence over the repeated target of panchayat members by the anti national elements, All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference called it as inhuman approach of the government.

Anil Sharma, president of the Organization while speaking in a gathering of panchs, Sarpanch in Nagrota Assembly Constituency anguished over the attack on Panch Bashir Ahmad Sheikh at Ashtengoo in Bandipora 2 days back.

He Said, holding panchayat elections for the sake of only funds without empowerment and security means nothing but a fake exercise of the government.

"The Government is least serious in ensuring security of the gullible panchayat members but in stead beating their chest on the name of holding panchayat election, simply they are befooling the innocent  villagers", he said.

The Pannchayat leader asked the State police chief to provide at least need based security to the panchayat members who are apprehensive of their life.

In atmosphere of fear for life and security threat the panchayat leaders are unable to reach the remote and vulnerable areas of the state, he stated.

Other panchayat members present on the occassion also shared their concern over the apathetic approach of the state government towards Panchayati Raj Institutions and castigated the decision of the government to hold indirect elections for the Sarpanches.. They too called for constitutional status for PRI's and implementation of 73rd amenment of Indian constitution here in the state.

Sd/-

Anil Sharma

President, AJKPC

9419186510

            

Modi’s Message to J & K via Panchayat Conference

Modi’s  Message to J & K via  Panchayats 

Raman Sharma

In 26^th edition of ‘Mann ki Baat ’ the famous radio interaction program by Prime Minister Narendra Modi broadcasted on Sunday (27/Nov), the Prime Minister have made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir State remains on top of the agenda of his government. When the entire country was expecting him to speak on demonetization, he started his conversation referring  his visit to Ladakh to celebrate  Deepawali with  the Jawans of Army and Indo Tibetan  Border Police at China border.  This was his 1^st Mann ki Baat program after announcement of Demonetization on 8^th of November.

Despite hue and cry by all opposition parties against the demonetization and bandh call, the Prime Minister candidly initiated his speech firstly mentioning the issues related to the Himalayan state, even after reference of his visit to Ladakh, he continued to appreciate and recite his meeting with the delegation of  Panchayat  members of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference,  ( AJKPC is a leading organization representing members of the rural local bodies of the state). The delegation led by its Chairman Shafiq Mir had met the Prime Minister at New Delhi including over 2 dozens of other village heads belonging to different Panchayats on 5^th of November. The significance attributed by the Prime Minister about his meeting could be  guessed from the fact that after minutes of  his meeting with this  delegation, from his personal twitter handle @narendramodi (having over 25 million followers), he flashed the group photo of his meeting with these panches and sarpanches followed by 3 more tweets expressing satisfaction and assurance to do everything possible to ensure development state and to meet aspirations of   the youth of the state. These tweets later liked and rewetted by thousand times by  others across the country.

It was not only the tweets that drew the attention of the national media about his meeting with this delegation but in fact an official press note along with photographs  having more than 420 words was also formally issued by Prime Minister Office that is yet available on www.pmindia.gov.in). After the formal meeting for over an hour, the Prime Minister had also hosted a High tea for this  delegation of village heads .

In his address to the nation on the radio program, Mann ki Baat, the P.M appreciated the role of the Panchayat Conference for helping the government to ensure attendance of the students for exams and for their concern about the future of the children and burning of schools in Kashmir valley. 

 “A few days ago, all Pradhans from the villages of Jammu & Kashmir had come to see me. They were from the Jammu & Kashmir Panchayat Conference. They had come from different villages of the Kashmir valley, there were around 40-50 Pradhans. I got an opportunity to speak to them at length. They had come to discuss a few points on the development of their villages; they had some demands. But when the deliberations began, issues such as conditions in the valley, the law and order situation, the future of children came up in a natural manner. These village Pradhans spoke about these topics with such affection and openness that everything touched my heart. In the course of the conversation, there was also a mention of schools in Kashmir that had been set afire. And I felt these Pradhans were as saddened as our other countrymen were, at that. They too felt that it was not just schools, it was the future of the children, that had been set ablaze. I had urged them to focus on these children’s future, on their return home. I am feeling happy today that these Pradhans, who had come from the Kashmir valley, kept their word in letter and spirit. They returned to their villages and made people from far and wide aware on this issue. Recently, just a few days ago, when the Board examinations were held, 95% of the sons and daughters of Kashmir, the young students appeared in the examinations. The sheer volume of students, who appeared in the Board Examinations, is a clear indication that our children from Jammu & Kashmir are committed to attain newer heights of progress, to build a bright future through the medium of education. For their resolute zeal I congratulate these students and I also felicitate their parents, their kith and kin, their teachers and all the Gram Pradhans as well from the depths of my heart”, the PM Said.

Before the conclusion of this meeting of the Panchayat heads with the P.M at New Delhi, neither the J & K government nor even the local BJP leadership knew anything about the meet and it has come as a big surprise for political parties and leaders.

Analysts and experts on Kashmir issue   consider it as a  hint by the Modi government to separatists and as well as the mainstream political parties including NC and PDP that they no more have monopoly to dictate terms to the government of India on Kashmir as the GOI can directly interact with the people of Jammu and Kashmir without any mediocre. They also hinted that in days to come  the Panchayat Conference Could be seen playing more important role.   It is also been seen as a reaction of the Union government to the Syed Ali Shah Geelani camp’s inflexibility wherein they did not even open the doors for meeting with the parliament members including Sita Ram Yechury, Sharad Yadav and D Raja during their visit to valley in the first week of September this year. After the encounter of Burhan Wani on July 8, the Valley witnessed an unprecedented trail of violence, Bandhs, curfews , loss of lives of  civilians, security force personnel, burning of schools, arrests, injuries and there was lot of pressure on the union government to initiate dialogue with the separatists to calm down the flames of violence though government of India held all party meet at New Delhi headed by P.M and announced several measures. The union home minister RajNath Singh also made several visits to Srinagar and made public announcement to hold dialogue with everyone and invited them to discuss all issues for Confidence Building Measures and bring back the peace and normalcy in the state but here also the Separatists Camp snubbed the initiative of the MHA and did not turn up for any dialogue.

During the month of August a delegation of opposition political parties from the state headed by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also met the Prime Minister to  discuss the situation in Valley and after his meeting even Omar thanked Modi for the patient hearing to them and promised to work together with the GOI to  find solution of problems in the state but on ground neither Omar nor his National Conference made any attempt to reach the people or suggested anything doable to prevent the cycle of violence and trouble in valley. NC added fuel to fire, to score political gains, Omar vehemently opposed the sanction for establishment of IIM at Jammu and tried to divide the state on regional lines. In fact the National Conference leaders as routine adopted double standards, Senior Abdullah i.e. Farooq Abdullah who have headed the state as Chief minister for quite a long after his father Sheikh Abdullah also issued controversial statements.

On their arrival at Jammu after meeting with Prime Minister, while addressing the media persons, Shafiq Mir, Chairman AJKPC along with president Anil Sharma had castigated the opposition political parties and ridiculed ‘Autonomy’ and ’Self Rule’ as any formula. In the official press statement, the AJKPC leadership have stated “Those Kashmir Centric political parties who have soft corners for Pakistan are not friends of the people of Jammu and Kashmir; the National Conference whose leaders are today asking to include Pakistan in resolving so called pending Kashmir dispute should remember the 1931 agitation. In 1931, there was no Pakistan, so how today they have changed their stance, this shift from democracy to pro-Pakistani politics is illogical and just to hoodwink the people”. The deliberate selection of harsh vocabulary by the Panchayat Leaders even against the mainstream political parties reveal enough that somewhere they have strong patronage. 

They alleged that those parties who were shying and denying the implementation of 73rd and 74th amendment  of Indian Constitution  here in the state under the garb of autonomy and self rule were hypocrite and those who cry for autonomy and Self Rule were in fact fooling the innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir State.  ‘Either you were with India or Against it, you (political parties) cannot play the double game’ they had further alleged in the media briefing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public appreciation of the Panchayat Leaders of the State cannot be a mere co-incidence but might be a well planned strategy which may unfold in coming days. It may be rise of a political dawn in Jammu and Kashmir, it is pertinent to mention here that the Shafiq Mir, Chairman of the Panchayat Panel was handpicked by Sonia Gandhi in Oct-2013 as an entrant in Congress party and he is presently official spokesperson  for the JKPCC. Whereas Anil Sharma, the AJKPC president joined the Bhartiya Janta Party before state assembly elections in presence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Jammu. It is pertinent to mention here that it was only after a months long agitation and 3-4 days full fledged hunger protest by the leaders of this Panchayt body that the then State government led by Omar Abdullah announced monthly honorarium of Rs. 2000/month for Sarpanch and 1000/Month for a  Panch, it was first time in the history since establishment of Panchayti Raj  institutions in the state that the government gave monetary honourarium to elected Panches and Sarpanches.

Days after AJKPC members  meeting with the  P.M, the   Jammu and Kashmir government have also hinted to conduct Panchayat elections in the state soon and then after  governor NN Vohra also cleared the pending amendment bill with his office which was passed by the State legislature early this year, earlier he had returned the file to the state government seeking clarification on the bill. All these political developments cannot be seen as mere coincident but surely a strong indication by the Union government and it should  not be a surprise if in year 2017 we find this organization of Panches and Sarpanches amplifying its activities on the name of contentious demand of   implementation of 73^rd amendment of Indian constitutional in the state of Jammu and Kashmir which is strongly opposed by both National Conference and PDP under the garb of article 370. Feedback : jkrtiact@gmail.com

PUBLISHED IN JOURNEY LINE ON 20/12/2016 AND ALSO ON THE NEWS NOW

http://www.thenewsnow.co.in/newsdet.aspx?q=17724

Include NoK's, Families of Martyr Panchayat Members in Terror Victims List: AJKPC

AJKPC  Demands Compensation for Families of Deceased Panchayat Members

AJKPC asks Govt to rehabilitate families of Martyr Panchayat members

Jammu, 18/Dec/2016: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, AJKPC has appealed to the State government to award adequate compensation to the families and next of kin of the elected Panches and Sarpanches who have been killed by the terrorists between the period 2011 to till date. The demand has been made by Anil Sharma, the president of the organization while addressing a gathering there at Nagrota Assembly Constituency in an awareness program about implementation of 73^rd amendment of Indian constitution in the J & K.  

He said, the State government must rehabilitate and award adequate compensation to the next of kin of the martyr Panchayat members who for the sake of democracy sacrificed their lives but did not bow before the diktats of the terrorists.  Sharma asked the state government to include the names of the family members of these deceased Panchayat members in the list of victims of terrorism and award the same compensation as awarded to other civilians recently in Kashmir.

Citing the example of one Lady Panch, Zona Begum from Kashmir who have lost sight of her one eye due to injury of bullet by the coward terrorists almost 3 years ago. He informed that the poor family of the Lady Panch have yet not received any compensation and she is finding hard to get money for her treatment and feed the family.

Replying queries of the participants in the awareness program about  significance of 73^rd amendment of Indian Constitution, the Panchayat leader informed that except Jammu and Kashmir in other states, the Panchayats after implementation of 73^rd amendment of Indian constitution are authorized to issue various certificates of public utilities like, Birth Certificate, Income Certificate, Character/Antecedent, Registration of Death Certificate, identification of BPL persons under the jurisdiction of the Panchayat and the people there avail all these services without any hassle. It is  Pertinent to mention here that AJKPC last week from Ramban distrcit had started its State wide awareness campaign to educate panchayat members and other people of the state about merits of strong and Independent Panchayti Raj Institutions. In this week time, the AJKPC has successfully  organized awareness program in Gool-Sangaldhan, Purmandal-Samba and various Panchayats of Nagrota block.  

Prominent Panchayat members and other local who were present on the occasion include  Balwan Singh,   sarajdin  Thara  Yograj Sharma, Amar Nath, Girdhari Lal,Jagdish Chander,Bishan,Sadiq Mohd, Angrez  Singh    Mohd Younis,  Karan Dutt ji   Rhemat  Ali  ji sarpanch  Bajalta. Girdhari Lal  Sharma ji,  Pargalta. Ashok  kumar. Mohan  lal. Sham lal. Ram Lal. Gulam  Rasool. Jamat  Ali. Najeer  chowdhary and others

Sd/-

Anil Sharma,

President, AJKPC, 9419186510 

J & K People Must talk to Delhi Directly: Shafiq

PRESS    NOTE

J & K People Must talk to Delhi  Directly: Shafiq

J & K’s Accession with India is full and Final: Anil Sharma

Jammu, 07/Nov/2016: Describing Panchayat conference  delegation meeting with  P.M Narendra Modi ji as most successful and unexpected experience , Chairman All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference Shafiq Mir said that the common people of Jammu and Kashmir  must establish their direct link with Delhi instead of going through( black mailers) so called politicians.

On his return from Delhi, Mir flanked by Anil Sharma, President AJKPC and other Senior leaders of the organization Leaders told media persons at Jammu that their delegation meeting with  P.M was most successful .

He informed that the delegation discussed almost all issues confronting the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Mir apprised the media persons that the P.M not only gave the delegation a  patient hearing but also some  unexpected assurances like   owing the students  of  Jammu and Kashmir  for educational purposes and expressing his  concern about the continuous deteriorating    situation in Jammu and Kashmir.   The Panchayat leader said the Prime Minister have assured  that his doors are open for  all peple of Jammu and Kashmir and he would love to discuss their issues with them directly.

Besides this Mir  also informed that hosts of their issue including development, corruption, and panchyts and other local bodies were thread barely discussed with the Prime Minister. He said the delegation was given sufficient time, love and free atmosphere.

Shafiq Mir informed the media persons that  the Prime Minister have assured them to consider all their genuine demands including extension of 73^rd and 74^th amendment of Indian constitution in the state of Jammu and Kashmir also that calls for more powers to Rural and Urban Local bodies.  

Mir told that the response of the Prime Minister was very positive and he is keen to restore peace in the state.

Mir said that those parties who are shying and denying the implementation of 73^rd and 74^th amendment  of Indian Constitution  here in the state under the garb of autonomy and self rule are hypocrite .  He said  ‘ Those who cry for autonomy and Self Rule are in fact fooling the innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir State’. ‘Either you are with India or Against it, you(political parties) cannot play the double game ‘.

“Those Kashmir Centric political parties who have soft corners for Pakistan are not friends of the people of Jammu and Kashmir; the National Conference whose leaders are today asking to include Pakistan in resolving so called pending Kashmir dispute should remember the 1931 agitation. In 1931, there was no Pakistan, so how today they have changed their stance, this shift from democracy to pro-Pakistani politics is illogical and just to hoodwink the people” . Mir Stated.

Anil Sharma, AJKPC President also briefed the media, he said “ The integration of Jammu and Kashmir State with India is full and final, through instrument of Accession and there is no question of raising any further doubts about it”.  

Sharma said besides Panchayat issues, the AJKPC shall also serve the people by raising their voice on  socio-political and economical issues concerning the people of Jammu and Kashmir State. Sharma apprised that in days to come, their organization would also hold dialogues and meetings with other senior functionaries of the Union and State government.

The AJKPC leaders expressed complete satisfaction with the response of the Prime Minister and his gesture for bringing peace and normalcy in the state. They also informed that during their interaction with the Prime Minister, the question of burning of 32  schools was also raised on which the Prime Minister assured the delegation that besides union government even 130 crore people  of India whole heartedly would do everything to restore these schools at an earliest.

The delegation members of AJKPC who met the P.M include, Imtiyaz Afzal Beigh, Bashir Ahmed Malik, Ghulam Hassan Punzoo, Goutam Singh Jamwal, Faiz Khandy, Rashpal Charak, Captain(R) Raj Dev Singh, Raj Roop Singh, Raj Kumar, and others.   

                                                                                                             Yours Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                                          ­Sd/-

                                                                                                                                            ANIL SHARMA,

                                                                                                                                            President,

                                                                                        All J & K Panchayat Conference.                                                                                                                                           

Mb: 9419186510.         

AJKPC Welcomes Approval of IIM for Jammu, Rs 100 Cr for NIT Srinagar

AJKPC Condemns Omar’s Immature Reaction

Jammu, 14/Oct/2016: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, AJKPC have welcomed the decision of the Union government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi wherein the cabinet approved establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Jammu from the current academic year of 2016-17 and approval of Rupees 100 crore for modernisation of infrastructure of NIT-Srinagar.

Anil Sharma ,the president of AJKP, in a statement thanked the Union government, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Dy. Chief Minister Nirmal Singh  for giving due share to both regions of the state. He termed it as a wise decision of the BJP-PDP coalition government that would yield positive results in long term.

 Sharma said, AJKPC having representatives from both regions of the state always want equal development of every nook and corner of Jammu and  Kashmir.

The Panchayat leader also criticized the  Statement of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wherein, the acting president National Conference have opposed the establishment of IIM at Jammu. He said “AJKPC strongly condemns such mischievous and immature reaction of a leader like the stature of a Former Chief Minister”.

Castigating the National Conference, the party that have ruled the State for more than any other political party;  for opposing IIM at Jammu and creating a gap between two regions for petty politics, the AJKPC leader stressed for collective effort for growth and development of the state.

 It is pertinent to mention here that former Chief Minister just after 3-4 hours of announcement of the establishment of IIM at Jammu through his multiple tweets expressed his displeasure and wanted IIM at Kashmir instead of Jammu.

AJKPC Condemns Killing of ex-Sarpanch in Pulwama

AJKPC Demands Full Proof Security  for Panchayat Members Security

Jammu, 03/Oct/2016: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, AJKPC has strongly condemned the brutal killing of ex-Sarpanch Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, who was shot dead by gunmen yesterday there in Kakpora area of Pulwama District of Valley and have demanded full proof security for former Panchayat members in the militancy infested areas.

Anil Sharma, Chairman of the organization while expressing condolences for the deceased Panchayat member called it as frustrated attempt of the anti-national elements who want to create and atmosphere of fear and panic in the state by selective targeting the panchayat representatives.

Sharma said so far around 15 Panchayat members have been killed and others injured since 2011 by the terrorist organizations but unfortunately neither the state government nor the union government took any initiative for the security of these brave men who chose democracy and defied the secessionist and militant forces.

The AJKPC president also demanded adequate ex-gratia relief for the family of the martyred Sarpanch and also for all others who were assassinated or injured. He appealed the Director General of Police to provide on demand security to the Panchayat members at least in the most vulnerable areas of the state where the footprints of the terrorists still visible. The AJKPC president along with other senior leaders of the organizations are expected to visit the family of the deceased sarpanch to express their sympathises but the organization have not revealed the name of its visiting leaders and dates due to prevailing situation in the valley and security reasons.

Fayaz Ahmad a former village headmen was associated with National Conference who was shot dead by terrorists who barged  at his residence on Sunday.

BJP Activists Pay Tribute to Gandhi, Shastri at Nagrota.

'Jai Jawan, Jai Kissan’  the slogan of the Shastri ji and ‘Nation First’ the thought  of Mahatma Gandhi are not only words but epics: Anil

Jammu, 02/oct/2016: Belonging to different panchayats of the Nagrota Vidhan Sabha area, today a good number of Bhartiya Janta party activists paid tributes to the national personalities like Mahatma Gandhi ji and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary. On this occasion, the party leaders also remembered the contributions of these leaders in the freedom movement and their messages to the youth for their participation in nation building which is even relevant after so many decades of their death. ‘ Jai Jawan, Jai Kissan’ the slogan of the Shastri ji and ‘Nation First’ the thought  of Mahatma Gandhi are not only words but epics, said Anil Sharma while addressing the gathering.

On this occasion, the party men also congratulated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for unfurling so many community development, schemes for farmer and social justice schemes for all sections of the society. They also resolved to take each and every scheme to the last person in every village of their constituency to inform the people about the good work done by their party.

Taking cue from the appeal of the Prime Minister to celebrate the Gandhi Jyanti in social services and sanitation, later the party workers also held a cleanliness drive in the areas nearby Kol Kandoli Mata temple and   main bazaars of Nagrota.

On the latest development of counter terrorism exercise of India army by conducting surgical strikes in Pakistan Occupied area at Uri to eliminate  the terror launching pads, the party workers raising pro-India and Pro-Army Slogans welcomed the decision of the union government led by Prime Minister who again proved that he is man of words and terror and talks cannot go together.

Prominent who were present on the occasion include....Nagrota Bazar president Kishor Sharma. Prof Ramesh Gupta. Subash Sharma. Kuldeep Anand.  Krishan verma. Pawan sharma. Shiv Darshan kumar. Sub surjeet kumar. Ajay kumar. Nandlal sharma. Mangal singh.

Hindu Muslim Etihaad Sangathan Organizes Dangal at Jandrah

Dangal for Communal Harmony Organized at Jandrah

Jammu, 01/Aug/2016: To bring people of different faiths together through traditional sports, Hindu Muslim Etihaad Sangathan has organized a Quami Ekta Dangal in forest area Seegala under forest range Jandrah.

People from Hindu and Gujjar Community jointly contributed resources for organizing the Dangal.

 Anil Sharma, founder and Patron of the Hindu Muslim Etihaad Sangathan and president of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference presided over as chief guest on this occasion. While giving further details about the sports event held in forest range, Sharma informed that Hindu Muslim Etihaad Sangathan to strengthen the communal bonds between the different faiths decided to promote such sports event.

 He said besides promoting communal harmony the  motive of the program was also to bring an awareness about the protection of natural resources like forests and water resources.  

It is pertinent to mention here that in this Dangal event the wrestles had agreed to participate without any money and only for Gurh and Kheer for which the milk was provided by the tribal community free of cost and the Gurh is contributed by the Hindu Community. The different rounds of wrestling included rounds of   Ajay Sharma v/s Nissar of Doda,  Gopal Sharma of Jandrah v/s  Murad Ali of Jammu and   Akram V/s Vijay of  Bajalta and the winners  were Ajay, Gopal and Akram Muneer from Jammu.

Members of the Hindu Muslim Etihaad Sangathan also congratulated the participating wrestlers and more specifically referee Fareed who supported the organization to manage the event.   

 Besides a large number of local people from nearby villagers , the prominent who were present include Master Chandermauli,  Fajji chowdhary, Jagtar singh, Surf din, Som Dutt, Sudesh Verma, Sham Singh, Saleem Mohd, Randhir Singh,Deepak Kumar,  Haji  Bashir mohd, Veer Singh, Daleep Kumar Lambardar, Faroz Din, Ajay kumar Lambardar, Billu , Sardaru , Noorjamal, and Sabir Mohammad.

AJKPC asks government to withdraw PR Bill Amendment

AJKPC  asks government to withdraw  PR Bill Amendment

Jammu, 26/July/2016: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, AJKPC today once again asked the PDP-BJP coalition government to withdraw amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Bill. Asking the state government to take a cue from the decision of the honourable governor to return the said bill for clearance to the state government.

Anil Sharma, president of the organization while addressing the media persons after chairing a meeting of the Panchayat representatives of Jammu division informed that all the members of AJKPC have unanimously  appealed the state government to withdraw anti-democracy bill  to avoid any confrontation.

Cautioning the Coalition government to learn lessons from the past blunders of the previous governments (election rigging in 1987 ) that had lead to turbulence and violence in the state and avoid fiddling with the democratic  laws and institutions again.

“Our 13 brave panchayat members have sacrificed their lives between 2011 to 2016 to upkeep the democracy alive in the state but instead of respecting their martyrdom the PDP-BJP government is rubbing salt on wounds” , said Sharma.

The people of all the three regions of J & K State are pro-democracy and believe in the idea of decentralisation of power this was the reason that over 80 percent voting was recorded during last panchayat elections, even in most militancy affected areas of the state, be it Valley or in Jammu people daring all odds chose the democratic process but now this amendment in the PR Act may loose their faith and then the entire liability shall be on the shoulders of the Coalition government.

The Panchayat leader while condemning the ruling as well as opposition parties for their double standards in and outside the legislative assembly to weaken the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act through the amendments, he said the members of these political parties supported the bill in the assembly but pretended to oppose it before the people and their bluff have also been exposed.

The AJKPC president asked the state government not to take a rigid stand and withdraw the proposed amendments in the PR Bill that were passed by state legislature during last session of the house. He said, when the highest constitutional institution of the state i.e Raj Bhavan has expressed its displeasure which is evident through returning the bill for seeking clarification, now it becomes moral duty of the elected government to respect the constitution and also voice of the people who have already opposed the amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act. Those who attended the meeting and were present during the press conference include, Goutam Singh Jamwal, Provincial President, Jammu, Raj Kumar, Provincial, Vice President, Jammu, Sardar Inderjeet Singh, Raj Dev Singh,  Captain Kasturi lal Sharma, , Bindu Choudhary, Sanjeev Singh, Sarfraz Choudhary,  Ram Pal Sharma, Amjad Malik,,Captain Ajeet Singh, Mani Ram Sharma, Avinash Devi, Mohan Lal Mengi, Puran Chand Bhagat, Mohammad Aslam and others.

Recall PRA Bill or face Consequences: AJKPC to Govt

Make a formal request to Governor for returning PRA Bill: AJKPC tells govt 

 Will launch Block, Panchayat level agitation to save PRIs from vested political interests: Sharma  

JAMMU,06/July/2016: All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) on Wednesday asked the ruling PDP-BJP coalition to make a formal request to the Governor N N Vohra for returning of controversial and flawed ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2016’ to rectify its blunder of imposing ‘black law’ on the rural people of the state. 

The AJKPC, a frontline organisation of elected Sarapnches and Panches fighting for empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Jammu and Kashmir, also declared that it would launch a state-wide agitation at Panchayat and block levels if the state government do not make a request to the Governor for returning the Bill for reconsideration when it’s sent to him (Governor) for his assent.

“This is not the fight for election of a Sarpanch or Panch in a Panchayat but it is a decisive battle for restoration of democracy which has ruthlessly been hammered and crushed at the grass-roots level. The state government has violated the fundamental rights of the people and made a direct assault on democratic ethos of the state by passing the illogical Bill in both the Houses of State Legislature,” Anil Sharma, state president AJKPC told reporters here this morning.

The AJKPC had called an emergent meeting of Sarpanches from different parts of Jammu region, including Executive Body members of the organisation today to discuss the situation arising out of the amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Raj Act (PRA) 1989. The Amendment in the Act provides for Sarpanches being elected by the Panches instead of elected directly by the people in rural areas.

Sharma said there was a great resentment among common masses against the state government for its illogical move because they were feeling disempowered and deprived. “It appears the state government did not apply its mind before introducing this amendment in the PRA because it will directly make political interference in the PRIs. After this amendment, a Sarpanch will act like a MLC or Rajya Sabha member as he will be elected by Panches and he will have no accountability to the people directly,” the AJKPC leader said. 

He made a fervent appeal to the ruling political parties not to politicize the PRIs for their vested interests which will have serious ramifications in the state.

“Instead of strengthening the democracy at grass-roots level and encouraging larger public participation in decision making at local levels, the PDP-BJP coalition has virtually strengthened the voices of separatists in Kashmir Valley who are against the participation of people in elections. The government move will be insult to the sacrifices of those Panchayat members and security personnel who laid their lives for strengthening of democracy at grass-roots level in sensitive state of Jammu and Kashmir,” the AJKPC president said.

He also declared that a meeting of Sarpanches from Kashmir and Ladakh regions would be held next week to start state-wide agitation against the imposition of ‘black law’ on the people of the state.   Sarpanches from Doda, Reasi, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and other districts of Jammu province attended the meet. Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion include Bimla Devi, President WomenWing-AJKPC, Raj Kumar, Provinical President (J), S. Amnider singh, Ashwani Sharma, Sanjeev singh, Bindu chowdhary, Mohan Singh, ,  Ram pal Sharma Sarpanch, samba distt. Puran kumar, Karpal singh , Puran chand sarpanch Reasi, Rakesh Charak, Yashpal  singh Charak all Sarpanches.

Imposition of ‘black law’ on rural people unacceptable: AJKPC

AJKPC to mobilize people for state-wide agitation; Govt making efforts to crush democracy at grass-roots level: Anil Sharma

JAMMU, 01/July/2016: All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) on Friday declared that it would mobilize the people and launch a state-wide agitation against the state government’s move to weaken the Panchayati Raj system and crush democracy at the grass-roots level in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The ‘Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2016’, which was passed by the legislative assembly on June 30, is a black law which will snatch the democratic rights to the people to elect their representatives at the grassroots level directly. The state government has cleared its intentions of weakening the Panchayati Raj System in J&K,” Anil Sharma, state president AJKPC said.

He was addressing the local people of Dansal and Nagrota blocks who held a strong demonstration against the state government’s ill-advised move to snatch their rights of electing Sarpanches of their own choice.

“We are left with no option but start a vigorous state-wide agitation against the state government which has tried to dismantle the well-established Panchayati Raj system which has been strengthened in J&K only after the sacrifices of security personnel, rural people and Panchayat members,” Sharma said.

He said the AJKPC has asked its members to approach the people for a mass agitation at state-level to defeat the PDP-BJP government’s illogical move which will only crush the democracy at the grass-roots level.  

The AJKPC leader said the Amended Bill was totally against the spirit of the 73^rd Amendment of Indian Constitution for which they had been fighting for the last many years.

“The move of state government is fraught with serious ramifications as it would encourage the money and muscle power in Panchayat elections. Political parties would easily win over the elected Panches and get their relatives, family members and favourites elected as Sarpanches, leaving deserving and genuine Panchayat members at the receiving end,” Sharma said.

He said the rural populace and all stakeholders would strongly oppose the proposition which would deprive them of the benefits of democratic decentralization.

“We appeal to the government to shun its ill-intention and not impose any black law on the people as it will prove suicidal for it and create anarchy in the state,” he warned.