Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Sept 16: Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and senior Congress leader Thakur Balbir Singh today asked State Government to create conducive atmosphere for conducting free and fair elections to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayats.
Singh said that it was responsibility of the State authorities to remove prevailing fear psychosis among people of the State in general and Kashmir Valley in particular.
Addressing one day convention of party workers at Kathua, organized by Block Congress Committee (BCC) president Ravinder Pal Singh Neetu, he said that Congress was committed to strengthen democratic institutions at the grass- root level.
“Credit for strengthening democratic institutions across the country has gone to Congress party. Late Rajiv Gandhi had introduced revolutionary 73rd amendment in the Indian Constitution to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State”, Singh recalled and added that Congress will never hesitate to participate in democratic process.
“Our only apprehension is prevailing law and order situation in the Valley”, he said and pointed towards recent militant attacks in Jammu region also.
Ridiculing BJP’s attempt to stake claim that ULBs and Panchayat elections are going to be held due to party’s effort, Singh said that BJP is notorious for undermining sanctity of democratic institutions in the country. He said that BJP was responsible for depriving people of Jammu and Kashmir of their legitimate democratic rights.
Singh regretted that BJP has eroded and undermined all prestigious democratic institutions, be it Assembly, Local Bodies or Panchayati Raj Institutions. During the convention many social activists joined Congress.
Former MLA Girdhari Lal Chalotra, Pankaj Dogra, Ravinder Singh, Nirdosh Sharma, Karan Sharma, Pankaj Sharma and others also spoke on the occasion.
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