Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 20: Terming the amendment made by the Union Government in J&K Panchayati Raj (PR) Act 1989 as an attempt to dis-empower the newly established Panchayati Raj system in J&K, all J&K Panchayat Conference (JKPC) has expressed anguish against the amendment.
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Addressing a press conference here today, JKPC Chairman, Shafiq Mir claimed that the amendment was an attempt to dis-empower the newly established PR system in J&K and is also against the repeated promises made by PM, Modi regarding strengthening of PR system in J&K.
A handout claimed that Central Government has made amendment in J&K PR Act though which District Development Councils will be elected through direct vote by the people. 14 constituencies have been created in each district called ‘Territorial Constituencies’. These constituencies also include the jurisdiction of already elected Block Development Councils (BDCs).
Explaining concern, Mir said, a territorial constituency has been created within the jurisdiction of elected BDC which may be some sort of clash with the already elected Block Development Chairman.
“Not only this, by this amendment, the elected BDC chairpersons will not have right to vote or to contest District Chairman elections which totally injustice and against the spirit of PR Act,” Mir said.
Terming it unfortunate, the JKPC leader said, it was they who contested Panchayat elections when all the political parties had boycotted those elections.
Demanding rollback of this amendment, Mir said the tier elections should be conducted as per JK PR Act 1989.
BDC chairpersons Arun Kumar Sharma, Surinder Kumar Bhagat, Sarshad Natnoo, Brijeshwer Singh and Aftab Ahmed Beig also spoke on the occasion.
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