TERMING State government
decision to hold Panchayat elections without implementing 73 and 74 amendments as
undemocratic and unconstitutional, BJP today out rightly opposed it and
declared its resolve to launch a movement against such dictatorial move. National Executive Member &
State Chief Spokesperson Dr. Jitendra Singh
said that this is “not election
of Panchayat but nomination of Panchayat” and instead of strengthening
democracy at gross-root level, it is sabotage of democracy at grass-root level.
An election like this is a farce and not empowerment of rural populace.
Dr. Singh further alleged that announcement
made by government smacks of arrogance on part of men at the helm and also
exposes duplicity of two ruling coalition parties. He reminded Congress that
implementation of 73rd and 74th Amendments was part of their party manifesto
and still they were maintaining a convenient silence to keep National
Conference in good humor. Congress party’s silence was a crime against
democracy, he said. National Conference, Dr. Singh reminded that their
leadership had time and again stated that one of main reasons for post-1989
militancy in state was lack of free & fair elections and if they truly
meant this, were they now not contradicting themselves by contributing to
holding of a stage-managed Panchayat election which will further add to the
stifling of genuine democratic aspirations?
NC-Congress government’s
commitment to hold fair and free local body elections was part of Governor’s
address presented at beginning of Legislature session in February 2009, he
reminded. Dr. Singh further alleged that hundreds of crores of rupees that will
be obtained as Central fund in the name of the “nominated” Panchayats is liable
to be misappropriated by ruling coalition.
Dr. Singh disclosed that BJP
plan to launch a movement against such fraudulent Panchayat election at
different levels, inside legislature, outside legislature, in the form of mass
protests and through awareness programmes besides contemplating option of legal
addressing.