* Extends agitation up to Jan 20
Excelsior Correspondent
Rajouri/Kathua, Dec 30: All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), under the second phase of its state-wide agitation on Monday held protests in Rajouri district’s Nowshera and Gujroo Nagrota in district Kathua against the Government’s reported decision not to implement 73rd Amendment in J&K and meagre increase in monthly honorarium of elected Panchayat members.
The protesting Panchayat members chanted slogans against the Government and condemned UT Administration for increasing the monthly honorarium of Sarpanches by only Rs 500, while discriminating against the Panches for not effecting any hike in their honorarium.
The Sarpanches and Panches led by AJKPC president Anil Sharma had observed 168-hour-long hunger strike at Dogra Chowk in Jammu from Dec 3 to Dec 10 in the first phase of agitation against the non-payment of MGNREGA liabilities.
They also demanded increase in monthly honorarium of Sarpanches and Panches besides security cover to AJKPC leaders and other Panchayat members in vulnerable areas.
Today, the elected Panchayat members from Nowshera block, led by AJKPC president Anil Sharma, held a strong protest in Nowshera and raised anti-administration slogans.
In his address, Sharma castigated UT administration for its reported move to not implement 73rd Amendment of Indian Constitution in J&K in toto.
“Recently, the department had said that the administration would implement only Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 which was amended in 2018 which clearly indicated that 73rd Amendment would not be implemented in J&K. The decision is highly condemnable and objectionable,” Sharma said.
He also criticized the Government for giving a meagre hike of Rs 500 to monthly honorarium of Sarpanches while ignoring Panches in the process.
The AJKPC leader also announced to extend the ongoing agitation up to January 20 and said that the Panchayat members would continue to hold protests till the Government concedes their demands.
At Gujroo Nagrota in Kathua district, Sarpanches and Panches, led by AJKPC state executive body member and BDC chairman Abhay Khajuria held a protest and criticised the Government for showing indifferent attitude towards the issues being faced by the representatives of the people at grassroots level.
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