Jammu, October 04 (Scoop News) -Expressing deep concern over the inordinate delay in conducting Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP State unit has once again reiterated its demand of holding early panchayat elections to decentralize the powers at grass roots level.
In a press statement issued here today, BJP State General Secretary Sat Sharma while expressing concern over delay in holding of Panchyat elections said, "It’s unfortunate that Jammu and Kashmir has been facing 229 crores annual losses due to delay in Panchayat election over which Govt yet to react and act".
"Since State Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohd Sagar himself admitted that Govt is facing loss worth of Rs 229 crores but still Govt adopted non-serious approach which is totally un-called for and unjustified", he alleged, adding, "State Govt, particularly the concerned Minister should be accountable and must explain people why Panchyat elections have been delayed so far".
Sat Sharma mentioned, ‘National Conference Govt at the time when it took over State to rule, made tall claims to decentralize power at grass roots level so that democracy will strengthen at ground level but inordinate delay in Panchayat elections speaks the double standards of the present coalition Govt". He further mentioned, "Even state Govt not implement the 73rd, 74th amendments of Indian Constitution here in Jammu and Kashmir which too exposed its non-seriousness".
Sat Sharma said that in a democratic set up it should be the prime duty of any Govt to ensure that the democracy flourishes at all levels and every citizen should be in a position to enjoy its democratic rights but "unlike other states of the country, people in Jammu and Kashmir are deprived of such a fundamental right".
He appealed the mainstream political parties in J&K to take up the issue in the ongoing session of assembly to pressurize the Govt to announce the Panchayat election schedule at the earliest besides he also asked the Govt to be accountable in holding the same forthwith in free and fair manners.