Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 27: Police today foiled the bid of Panchs and Sarpanchs to march towards Civil Secretariat here to protest against the killing of Javed Ahmed Wani a Sarpanch affiliated to ruling National Conference (NC) in Baramulla district few days back.
The protestors with tricolors in their hands were shouting slogans against the killings and failure of Government to protect the Sarpanchs and Panchs in the State who have become soft targets of the terrorists.
The demonstration was organized by All Jammu & Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) led by Shafiq Ahmed Mir its chairman and Anil Sharma general secretary.
As the protestors tried to move towards the Civil Secretariat the police stopped them and did not allow to proceed further. The protesting Sarpanchs and Panchs jostled with the police and high drama prevailed for some time. Later the protestors dispersed peacefully.
Talking to reporters Shafiq Mir accused the State Government of not being sincere in its efforts to protect Panchs and Sarpanchs and wanted them to resign enmass to bring to an end the basic institute of democracy in the State.
He alleged that Jammu and Kashmir Government is “not sincere” in its efforts to protect Panchs and Sarpanchs and wanted them to resign to bring an end to the institution’s functioning in the sensitive State.
He said five Panchs and Sarpanchs have been killed in the last one year and till now Government has failed to find out the killers of even one of them. They want that Panchs and Sarpanchs should resign under threat so that this institution ends once and for all in the State,” Mir alleged.
Mir said that if the Government failed to implement 73rd Amendment of Indian Constitution and empowered the Panchs and Sarpanchs, the outfit will continue its protest demonstrations.
The general secretary of the organisation Anil Sharma said that they won’t resign from their posts and instead will fight for their rights.
“If the Government thinks that we will fear and resign they are wrong, we won’t do it and fight for our genuine rights,” Sharma said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel