Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 18: Addressing the one day convention of National Conference at Akalpur in block Marh, former Minister and senior National Conference leader Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today assailed the move of withdrawing Rs 81 crore by the Jammu and Kashmir Government, allocated under 14th Finance Commission for Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Describing the decision as arbitrary and anti-poor, Sadhotra said that this exposes the tall claims of the administration in strengthening the grass root level democratic institutions and speaks volume about the concern for rural development.
“Day in and day out, this Government has been trumpeting about rural empowerment through the PRIs but when it comes to delivery on ground, the action does not match words,” he said and called for restoration of the funds so that the works proposed are taken up vigorously.
Held under the leadership of Captain Om Parkash, the convention was organized by Charanjeet Singh, Block President and Randhir Singh Chib, Senior Vice President of the Block.
Sadhotra also expressed surprise over the directive issued by the National Highways Authority of India on January 13 barring the farming within 500 meter from both sides of the boundary of Jammu Ring Road Project / Bypass from Raya Morh to Jagati, falling in districts of Samba and Jammu. He described the order as draconian as it will terribly impact the farmers having very meager holdings.
The NC leader sought review in the directive by the NHAI and urged the administration to take up the issue at the apex level so that the farmers are saved from the perpetual threat. There has to be a reasonable justification for denying farming within 500 meters,
The former minister questioned the wavering policies of the BJP towards different segments of society, saying the party is taking sadistic pleasure in putting people to miseries. He reminded about the assurance given to farmers by the Prime Minister in 2016 that their income would be doubled by 2022 whereas the fact is that income of farmers has gone down manifold.
Former Minister asked the participants in the convention to expedite mass contact programme and stand by the people in their villages to get their problems addressed.
Among those who spoke in the convention, included Raghubir Singh Manhas, District President; Ghar Singh, Corporator; Gian Chand (Principal Retd), Rakesh Sharma and others.
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