Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI/Udhampur, Dec 24: Under the second phase of its agitation to hold block and tehsil level demonstrations, All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) held protests in Rajouri district’s Sunderbani and Udhampur’s Chenani blocks against the government’s reported decision to not implement 73rd Amendment in J&K and meagre increase in monthly honorarium of elected Panchayat members.
The protesting Sarpanchs and Panchs from two blocks raised slogans against the Government and condemned UT Administration for giving a meagre hike of Rs 500 in the monthly honorarium of Sarpanchs while discriminating against the Panchs for not increasing their honorarium.
In the first phase of the agitation, the Sarpanchs and Panchs led by AJKPC president Anil Sharma had observed 168-hour-long hunger strike at Dogra Chowk in Jammu from December 3 to December 10 against the non-payment of MGNREGA liabilities worth crores. They had also demanded for increase in monthly honorarium of Sarpanchs and Panchs besides security cover to AJKPC leaders and other Panchayat members in vulnerable areas.
Under the second phase of the agitation, Sarpanchs and Panchs under the banner of AJKPC have started block and tehsil level protests across Jammu and Kashmir from December 20 and it would continue till December 30.
So far, the Panchayat members have held demonstrations at 20 places including 15 at tehsil level and five at block level.
Today, the Panchayat members from Sunderbani block, led by AJKPC president Anil Sharma, held a strong protest outside Additional Deputy Commissioner office in Sunderbani and chanted anti-administration slogans.
In his address, Sharma lashed out at the UT administration for its reported move to not implement 73rd Amendment of Indian Constitution in J&K in toto.
The AJKPC leader also castigated the Government for giving a meagre hike of Rs 500 to monthly honorarium of Sarpanchs while ignoring Panchs in the process.
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