Excelsior Correspondent
NAGROTA, Nov 9: Senior National Conference leader & Minister for Rural Development & Panchayats, Ali Mohammed Sagar and Provincial President, J&K National Conference, Jammu Province, Devender Singh Rana today expressed concern over growing tendencies of inciting passions and said that instead of highlighting polices and programme, some political outfits were unleashing hatred between various segments of people with an eye on 2014 elections.
“National Conference will fight tooth and nail these elements to keep the flag of secularism aloft”, they said while addressing the inaugural function of newly constructed Panchayat Garh at Marh at Block Dansal this afternoon.
The two leaders castigated those creating wedge between various segments of the society in the name of religion and region and hoped that the sagacious people will foil their game plan by maintaining unity.
Inaugurating the Panchayat Garh, Mr Sagar, termed Panchayati Raj representatives as important part of governance and said that they should actively involve themselves in ensuring sustained development of their areas and implementation of various welfare schemes initiated by the Government.
The Minister said that holding of Panchayati elections and putting in place fully empowered Panchayati Raj system has been a watershed development in the history of the State, by which powers have been devolved to the grass-root level. He said these institutions have been empowered with powers of 14 vital departments and senior officer of the rank of Additional District Development Commissioner has been made the nodal officer to monitor the same.
“In order to augment infrastructural capacity of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, Government has initiated the construction of Panchayat Ghars, all across the State and special instructions have been given to the officers to ensure their early completion”, he added.
Mr Sagar said that the Government has introduced several land mark flagship programmes for ensuring sustained development of the rural and far-flung areas and they have been instrumental in changing the socio-economic profile of the people living in these areas. He said that certain parties have got frustrated by the achievements registered by the present Government and are now trying to negate the same by spreading rumours and falsehood. “People are aware of the initiatives undertaken by us and would give a befitting reply to these parties in near future”, he maintained.
The Provincial President Mr Rana described Panchayat elections as landmark achievement of the Chief Minister and said if Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah will be remembered for the revolutionary land reforms, Omar Abdullah will be known for giving new impetus to democracy at grass roots level.
Mr Rana also referred to the introduction of Right to Information and Public Services Guarantee Acts, saying these measures will go a long way in empowering people in terms of raising questions over governance besides making administration accountable to general public.
He castigated opportunist political outfits like PDP and BJP for indulging in anti-people activities to garner support in the ensuing elections. In this pursuit, they were fanning communal and regional passions to the hilt. He referred to their divisive role in 2008 and said the people will alienate the two parties with the same determination they did five years ago.
Mr Rana asked the party workers to prepare for big democratic exercise right from now in order to steer National Conference to new pinnacles of success.
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