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.
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