Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 4: Former Union Minister and MLA, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta has assailed the State Government for not holding the civic elections. He asked the coalition leaders to come out clearly why they are afraid of the democratic process even at the grass root.
Commenting upon the reports that large sums linked with developmental activities in the urban areas are being held up by the Centre and not by elected local bodies of J&K, he said this is a serious aspersion on the functioning of the coalition of the State. He further said it was an irony of fate that why the ruling leaders are aspiring more empowers for themselves in the name of Autonomy, they are dragging their feet to hold civic elections and empower the Panchayats and local bodies by extending the 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Indian Constitution in conformity with other parts of the country.
Prof. Gupta said that it was a strange approach that the ruling leaders of the NC-Congress seek more and more grants from the Centre on the plea of being a part of Union of India but on the contrary it becomes a dogma for them when there is demand for grant of same rights to the people of J&K by extending the provisions of the Indian Constitution.
He further said that the empowerment of the basic democracies is being denied even after the pronouncements of the State Governor for extension of the 73rd and 74th Amendments to have Panchayati Raj and local bodies in conformity with the other States of India.
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