Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 20: All J&K Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today accused the Congress of only extending a lip service to the empowerment of Panchayats as no concrete and practical step was taken by the party in this regard despite the fact that implementation of 73rd Amendment was twice promised by the party in its poll manifesto in 2002 and 2008.
In a memorandum to former Union Minister and party incharge for the J&K, Ambica Soni here today, the AJKPC alleged that with its failure to keep the promise of 73rd Amendment, 33,000 Panchayat members in the State are feeling deceived by the Party.
The memorandum said that despite the assurance by AICC vice president, Rahul Gandhi regarding the empowerment of Panchayats in the State, no headway has been made in this regard due to which the image of party got tarnished among the masses.
The memorandum said during the AJKPC convention held at Srinagar on July 8 this year Sarpanchs had held Congress Party responsible for not fulfilling its promises with the Panchayats in the State despite the fact that promises were made by the party in its manifestoes.
The memorandum demanded immediate steps be taken for the implementation of 73rd Amendment in the State, enhancement of honorarium to Panchayat members and necessary steps be taken for the safety and security of Panchayat leaders of the State as nine Sarpanchs have been killed by militants so far.
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