Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 15: AJKPC, a leading body of Panchayat representatives in Jammu and Kashmir, today strongly condemned Congress for ignoring Panchayat members in upcoming Assembly elections in the State, saying the voters will punish the party for betraying the Sarpanchs in the polls.
“We strongly condemn the Congress for ignoring 33,000 elected Panchayat representatives of the State in upcoming Assembly elections in J&K,” All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference president Anil Sharma told reporters here.
It is not only apathetic but also breach of trust by the Congress that it has not given mandate to even a single Panchayat members in Jammu and Kashmir upcoming Assembly polls, Sharma said.
The voters will show them the power and punish them for cheating the Panchs and Sarpanchs, he added.
Sharma said, “Congress has betrayed 33,000 Panchayat members. Congress which always claimed to be the champion of empowerment of Panchayati Raj institutions have done nothing more than mere lip Service”.
“Where’s the promise made by Rahul Gandhi on releasing Rs 10 lakh to each Panchayat of the State for developmental activities,” he asked?
“Time and again, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi promised to give more powers to Panchs and Sarpanchs but when time came they turned their faces,” he alleged.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress has endorsed the dynasty politics, the merit is overlooked and only people associated with families are preferred over talent and eligibility otherwise party president Saif-u-Din Soz would have restrained from giving mandate to his son, the AJKPC cheif said.
“Panchayat members were promised due representation in the Assembly elections by the Congress leaders but unfortunately this grand old party has now turned into a private limited company,” he charged.
“Here people with the support of masses are ignored and only kiths and kins of its leaders are accommodated, this is the reason that the people are going away from this party,” the AJKPC chief said.
Imtiyaz Ahmad Beig, State general secretary also criticised the Congress for exploiting the innocent Panchayat members.
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