Panchs, Sarpanchs warn Govt of struggle

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 27: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference has accused the Coalition Government of being insensitive and deceiving the 33,000 elected Panchs and Sarpanchs of the State on the name of empowerment.
This was stated by general secretary of the Association Anil Sharma. He said the present Government has done nothing except the lip service and now we demand the Union Government and the Central leadership of the Congress party to make their promise of empowerment of the Panchayati Raj Institutions by making extending the 73rd Amendment of the constitution in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said during their meeting with Rahul Gandhi last year the latter had assured the delegation that his party would do everything to give Panchayats their due share but unfortunately the State leaders of the Congress party have totally disregarded the promise of its top leader.
The State unit of Congress party has totally surrendered itself to the coalition partner for the reasons best known to them otherwise these issues should have been resolved in the coordination committee meetings of the NC-Congress party.
Anil Sharma also condemned the National Conference party and accused it of being anti-democratic.
He warned the State Government to continued protests from the AJKPC leaders if the issues like 73rd Amendment and security for Panchayat representatives are not resolved at an earliest.