STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Expressing deep concern over the security situation of the State, Chairman All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), Shafiq Mir said that the State Government was using Panchayat elections as a test to gauge the public mood and anger against the government .
“The eagerness of the government to conduct Panchayat elections as early as possible is only meant to prepare the ground for parliamentary elections which have been deffered twice by the State Government without citing any valid reasons, said Mir adding that the State Government is pushing Panchayat members towards the first brunt of the people.
After his three days tour of Valley last week, Mir said, in a statement issued here on Wednesday, that he conducted several meetings with the Panchayat leaders and found that whole of the exercise was started by the State Government without consulting the real stake holders who has to contest these elections.
“All the Panchayat leaders have told me that the government was just pushing them towards the public anger and brunt and it (government) wants to prepare the ground for parliamentary elections through Panchayats by involving them first in the process”, Mir said, adding that All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference was in continuous consultations with the stakeholders and final decision will only be taken once the government issues notification in this regard.
Mir said if the government feels that the security situation of the State was so good and conducive and peaceful for the elections why they have been deferring parliamentary elections again and again, Mir said, adding that it is clear the government was using Panchayat elections to get the ground prepared for the parliamentary elections. “If the government is so confident about the security situation of the State it should first go for parliamentary elections and should not push the Panchayat members before public anger.” Mir further said that on one side the present BJP-PDP State Government of Jammu and Kashmir has badly weakened the Panchayati Raj Act and on other hand it uses the same institution for its political benefits. However, Mir said that they will not allow the government to do so and an appropriate decision will be taken at an appropriate time.