Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 8: “To provide adequate security to Sarpanchs and Panchs is a State responsibility and by publicly expressing its inability to do so, the State Coalition Government is abdicating its constitutional obligation and admitting its failure”. This was stated here today by BJP chief spokesperson & National Executive Member Dr. Jitendra Singh.
He said that the State has sufficient mechanisms in place to determine the threat perception of individual Sarpanchs and Panchs, and if there is any lack of resources, it can seek the assistance of Union Home Ministry as it has been doing in the past to arrange personal security cover for its Ministers and Chief Minister.
Dr. Jitendra Singh pointed out that Sarpanchs and Panchs in J&K have become a victim of “dual” vulnerability. On the one hand, they are under constant militant threat from terrorist organizations while on the other hand they have become a target of public wrath and resentment due to their inability to deliver because of lack of empowerment in the absence of implementation of 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Constitution, he added.
Dr. Jitendra Singh further alleged that the National Conference (NC) led Government’s reluctance to implement 73rd and 74th Amendments has sent out a damaging message that being a Kashmir-centric party, the NC leadership is deliberately doing so to appease the separatist constituency at the cost of precious lives of newly elected Sarpanchs and Panchs. He said the Panchayat elections in the State were expected to reinforce foundations of democracy in Jammu & Kashmir and pave the way for a faster return to normalcy and peace but by standing on prestige over the issue of 73rd & 74th Amendments, the NC leadership has compromised whatever headway had been made at grass root level.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also questioned the duplicity of Government coalition partner, the Congress party, which is demanding implementation of 73rd & 74th Amendments in street protests through its Youth Wing, while the Congress Ministers in the State Cabinet are under instruction from their central party High Command to toe the National Conference line.
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