JAMMU: Opposing the amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2016, former Minister and senior Congress leader, Raman Bhalla on Tuesday said it will bring certain changes in the Panchayati Raj system, which will go against the spirit of the 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution.
Castigating State Government for diluting the power of Panchayats, Bhalla said that amendment shall trample the spirit of people being real masters of their destiny as the indirect mode of electing Sarpanchs (village heads) would amount to “murder of democracy”.
Addressing Sarpanchs and Panchs of Bhour Camp area here, Bhalla accused the Coalition Government for an attempt to manipulate the elections of the Panchayati Raj bodies.
He said, while in opposition both the BJP and PDP were advocating for the empowerment of PRIs in the State, surprisingly, now the both coalition partners in order to gain political mileage is undermining the authority of PRIs, which is highly condemnable.
“Now the elections to the Panchayat had to be held as per amended law of 2014, which is as per 73rd Amendment. The amended law also provided for independent Election Commission for holding Panchayat elections. But the government has not appointed an independent Election Commission and Finance Commission as per the existing law. Rather the government has empowered the Chief Electoral Officer go ahead with these election, which is contrary to the 73rd Amendment as incorporated in the State law,” Bhalla reminded.