Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 9: Former Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz said that Congress would continue to exert pressure and pursue its resolve of bringing 73rd and 74th Amendments in Panchayati Raj Act while its agenda was very clear on the issue of Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the State.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function organized at the party headquarters here in connection with INC’s Quit India Movement today, Prof Soz said, “Congress wants to strengthen all the democratic institutions in the State and strongly feels that power must flow up to the grass-root level. It is only possible when all the powers are given to Panchayats and other Local Bodies. For this, the party would continue to exert pressure for bringing amendments in the Panchayati Raj Act”.
When asked that its alliance partner (NC) is hardly bothered about the demand projected by Congress in this concern and providing due share to the party in the Cabinet as three of its ministerial berths are held by them, Prof Soz said, “We have not given up, we continue to pursue for these things in our own way. Unfortunately, we do not have a Common Minimum Programme (CMP). It was the need of the hour at that time of framing a Government. So, the coalition was formed to run the Government. Responding to a question on expansion of cabinet, the PCC chief said, “It is party high command to decide on the issue. I am nobody to comment. But we hope something would come out early on the subject”.
To a yet another question, Prof Soz said his party’s stand was very clear on the AFSPA. He said it was premature to withdraw the Act and various stake holders have also given their view point on it.
Earlier, addressing a large gathering of Congress workers, the PCC chief said that L K Advani is a frustrated man in BJP. He was referring to his comments in Parliament that non-BJP, non-Congress PM is feasible in 2014 and UPA-II is illegitimate. “No doubt Advani is a seasoned politician but he is a `frustrated lot’. He had to withdrew his remarks in the House. He said Mr Advani has given up before contesting next elections, indicating installation of non-BJP PM next. This is an act to demoralize his own party. He said in J&K also people know the fate of BJP as it is totally a divided lot. Prof Soz claimed that in 2014 elections, Congress would again emerge as strong party with own PM.
Later, the PCC president flagged off the rally of Congress workers on the occasion of Quit India Movement. He said this movement launched on August 9, 1942 was a final assault on the British rulers to leave the country under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Several senior leaders including Ex-MP Dharam Pal Sharma, Ex-MLA Om Chopra, Health Minister Sham Lal, Hari Singh, MLA Indu Pawar, MLC Ravinder Sharma, Ex-Minister Mula Ram, Ex-MLA Swarn Lata, Ex-MLC Bashir Naz, A G Kohli, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ashwani Puri, K L Gupta, Manjit Singh, Manmohan Singh and others were present.
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