Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: Member Parliament from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency and senior Congress leader Madan Lal Sharma has appealed the State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to empower Panchayats by way of bringing ordinance through Governor, till a strong legislation is brought and passed in the Assembly.
In a press statement issued here today, Mr Sharma welcomed the public statement of the Chief Minister at Poonch and Marh recently wherein he assured constitutional guarantee to empower Panchayats. Appreciating Omar for his commitment and following Coalition `dharma’, the Congress MP urged the Chief Minister to empower Panchayats by way of bringing ordinance through Governor till a strong legislation is brought in the State Assembly.
Mr Sharma said it was in Congress manifesto and the common minimum programme of Coalition that Panchayats will be given powers as per 73rd amendment on the line of other states. He said the Union Government under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is committed to provide full economic and other support to Panchayats and waiting for the State to respond. He said Sarpanches and Panches are feeling suffocated and are annoyed with the Government for not transferring powers to them till now. This is genuine and can have long term impact and repercussions. He also demanded early constitution of block and district bodies.
The MP further claimed that article 370 was in no way an obstacle to empower Panchayats by 73rd and 74th amendment if the Constituent Assembly of the State passes it. He alleged that some politicians were misleading the people over the issue which is unfortunate.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel