STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Former Minister and PCC General Secretary, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma expressing surprise over the amendment in Panchayati Raj Act by the BJP PDP Government, said it shows the mentality of the present dispensation towards the democratic values and also their non- seriousness to strengthen the Panchayat Raj Institutions at grass root level. He termed it as the most unfortunate step which will prove fatal for strengthening democratic institutions.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, Manohar said “I am unable to understand the reason behind such amendment and what government wants to achieve by this except encouraging corruption.”
Sharma said that the main objective of establishing the Panchayat Raj Institutions is to involve the general public in developmental process of the country through their valuable suggestions given to the Panchayats and now the Sarpanchs who will be got elected only by the Panchs will not give due importance to the general public and their opinion, hence it is totally against the basic principal of Panchayati Raj which was the dream of Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
Sharma also said that by this amendment the political ideology of Bhartiya Janata Party has been shown as to how fair they are towards the participation of general public in decision making bodies. This amendment indicates that the BJP believes in limitation of power to the some people only and the general public be kept at large for the development of rural areas, he added.
Deputations led by Sarpanchs namely Surinder Singh, Romesh Kumar Sharma, Kamal Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Sham Sapolia, Romesh Sapolia, Budhi Singh, Ajeet Singh and Puran Chand apprised Manohar about the amendment of Panchayati Raj Institutions who said that it shows deep resentment against BJP and PDP Government and termed it as a murder of democracy.
Sharma strongly demanded withdrawal of this amendment in the larger interest of Panchayati Raj Institutions which is in infancy stage in the State of J and K if BJP has ethics and believes in democracy as well as Panchayati Raj.
Sharma appealed to the all sections of society including political parties to oppose this move of Coalition Government in one voice.
