Panchayats continue push for strengthening local bodies

Critics say this runs against Article 370

The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, an organisation of elected panches and sarpanches, on Tuesday maintained that it would not compromise of its demand for complete implementation of the 73rd amendment to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state.

“We won’t compromise on our stand of full implementation of all the provisions of the 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state,” AJKPC President Anil Sharma said.

“We reiterate (that) AJKPC’s stance on the issue is not diluted and the panches and sarpanches of the state won’t accept anything less than the full incorporation of all the provisions and sections of the 73rd amendment,” Sharma said. 

Unfortunately some vested interests are trying to build an impression that implementing all the provisions of 73rd amendment would undermine and challenge Article 370, which guarantees special status to the state, he 

alleged.

Such a propaganda is misleading and far from the truth, he said, because after the incorporation of all provisions of the 73rd amendment in the state Panchayati Raj Act 1989, only state subject holders and local voters could contest the Panchayat polls. Hence there was no scope of diluting Article 370.

Sharma said the copies of memorandum sent to MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been received by the respective secretariats.

The AJKPC has apprised all the MPs about the plight of Panchayat members in Jammu and Kashmir State through the memorandum.