PDP-BJP govt had diluted powers of Panchayats: J&K Cong
TNN Bureau. Updated: 8/14/2018 9:13:47 AM
Politics
Jammu, Aug 14: Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Monday said BJP was equally responsible in bringing a retrograde amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act which had diluted the power and provisions of 73rd amendment of the Constitution but it was opposition especially Congress which had launched a struggle against it and finally Governor N N Vohra has now restored the previous position of direct elections to the Sarpanch.
“Why the Centre Government and the BJP high command did not intervene to advise his party in the state, to stand against the anti-democratic and retrograde step to dilute the provisions of 73rd amendment, despite strong protests by the Congress and other opposition parties and representatives of Panchayats,” JKPCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir said while reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement regarding his party’s commitment to strengthen PRIs in the state.
He said, “PDP-BJP government brought about the anti-democratic amendment through state legislature, against tough opposition by Congress and all opposition parties.
The Governor had withheld the assent and sought clarifications but again PDP-BJP pressed for same and got it done.
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Congress launched a dharna at Raj Bhawan against it, on July 8, 2016 and state wide movement in the state