Nagrota, February 01, (Scoop News)-Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana on Sunday advocated regional autonomy for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as also devolution of powers to elected autonomous regional administrative set ups and elected autonomous district councils under the overall superintendance of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, as one entity, to assuage the developmental and political aspirations of the people.
“This is imperative to offset the perceived sense of alienation, imbalances and discrimination among different regions and their sub-regions particularly in view of the serious attempts by divisive political elements during the just concluded elections to sow the seeds of polarization and create iron cast compartments on the basis of region and religion”, Mr Rana said while addressing a public meeting in Nagrota this afternoon.
While elaborating the concept of devolution of powers, the Provincial President said Panchayats could play a pivotal role in rural development while the elected and empowered district councils and regional autonomous administrative set up, under the overall superintendence of the state, will help achieving optimum developmental objectives of each area. “The purpose is not to weaken the authority of the state but to encourage a spirit of federalism, with each region getting equal opportunities of progress and equitable development”, he said.
He said the mechanism will go a long way in strengthening the bonds of unity and amity between people of the three regions and maintaining single entity of the state, which is facing grave threat from divisive forces.
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