Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) threatened to go on a hunger strike from March 24 if the Government did not fulfill their demands within one week.
This was stated by Anil Sharma, general secretary, AJKPC, during a press conference here today.
He said that the Government under severe pressure from Panchayat Conference have announced honorarium for the elected Panchs and Sarpanchs and termed it as the first victory of the AJKPC.
Sharma said that the though the amount is not satisfactory but they have taken the step as positive. He clarified that the main and prime issue of the Panchayats is empowerment and security of Panchayat members.
Holding the State unit of Congress responsible for all the mess in Jammu and Kashmir, Sharma said that Congress has deviated from its promise and stand regarding the implementation of 73rd Amendment of Indian constitution in the State and delay in the process was in consent with Congress.
He urge the Government to bring in a Bill within seven days to implement all the provisions of the 73rd Amendment Act, otherwise they would go on a 72-hour hunger strike from March 24.
“We expected that our senior MLAs will raise their voice in support of Panchayats and force the Government to implement the 73rd Amendment Act, but they are instead discussing something else in the ongoing Assembly”, Sharma said.
“If any harm is caused to any of the AJKPC leaders, Chief Minister will be personally responsible”, he added.
Among others present were Raman Wazir, Mohammad Alam, Vimla Devi, Showkat Ali, Majid Ali, Girdhari Lal, Rajkali, Sham Lal, Raj Kumar, etc.