Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 24: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) — an organization of elected Panchayat members that has been spearheading the campaign for strengthening grass root level democratic institution in J&K, has strongly objected to the delaying tactics of the Government and State Election Commission in holding Panchayat elections in the Union Territory.
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The organization has warned that any move of suppression of power and autonomy of Panchayats and Gram Sabha would be confronted with all democratic and constitutional means. Anil Sharma, President of the Organization, who has been on week-long visit of Kashmir region today held a press conference.
While addressing the media persons in presence of other senior functionaries of the AJKPC, Anil Sharma said that all the pro democratic people in Kashmir and Jammu region want peace and development and that is possible only through constitutional means.
He said the term of existing panchayats would end in first week of January 2024 but so far neither the State election commission nor the J&K Government has taken any initiative to hold these elections which shows that none of them is sincere in adhering the democratic principles.
The AJKPC president said that educated and pro-democracy elements in J&K won’t accept suppression of powers of PRIs and by using democratic means would compel the Government to hold local bodies elections in J&K without any delay.
“Babus in J&K cannot keep democracy hostage of their lust of power grabbing by muzzling the grass root level representative bodies, people will resist all such tactics. The conspiracy to delay PRIs election won’t last long,” Sharma added.
Prominent leaders of the AJKPC present during the media interaction include Mohd Shafi Khan, Nazir Ahmed Raina, Mohd Afzal Ganie, Mohdmazffar Wani, Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, Bashir Ahmad Lone, Fayaz Ahmad Wani, Abdul Ahadzarger, Mohd Ashraf Hundoo, Ghulam Mohiudin, Abdul Rasheed Phatan, Abdul Hameed, Ali Mohd Rather, Gulzar Ahmad Haji, Muneer ul Haq and Mohd Ramzaan Dar.
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