Srinagar, Sep 26: Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said her party will bring a bill based on features incorporated in 73rd Amendment of the Central Panchayati Raj Act in the upcoming session of the legislature.
Mehbooba also alleged Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of National Conference was to create mistrust and paranoia in the state, as disturbance suit its way of governance. Mehbooba Mufti was addressing a press conference at her Gupkar Road residence.
She said that the Omar Abdullah Government had failed to bring peace in the state . This was manifest in the recent attacks on Panchs and Sarpanchs.
Condemning the attacks, she said, Normalcy in the state is facade. All those people involved in the killing of sarpanchs should be brought to justice. State government which was very proud of holding Panchayat elections has failed miserably to protect the same institution.
President of PDP said that her party will bring the 73rd Amendment bill on the floor of house and it will have all the features to empower Sarpanchs. She requested other mainstream parties including Congress to endorse the bill during the upcoming assembly session.
People participated in the Panchayat elections in large numbers so that their day to day issues get addressed but on contrary these poor people are getting killed. This shows the incompetence of the National Conference. They need Sarpanch and Panchs during the rallies and they consider them as crowd, said party President.
She castigated Omar Abdullah for failing to protect the innocent lives of Panchs and Sarpanchs. Chief Minister rather than protecting the democratic institutions raises the political issue at meeting of Unified Command. This simply shows height of incompetence, she added.
On the one side Chief Minister talks about the removal of AFSPA and on the other side he talks about night patrolling in the state Mehbooba said.
She also said that life of Sarpanchs is at risk, and as such have no option but to resign. Sarpanch and Panchs should be provided remuneration by the government as they are poor people.
Instead of tackling the main issues facing the state, Mehbooba said that the Congress and National Conference are busy with shadow boxing. The coalition is at loggerheads with each other, and as result they fail to focus on main issues concerning common man, she said.
Talking about the recent hike in diesel, FDI in retail and cap on LPG cylinders, she said, The state government should provide some relief to common man by providing subsidy from state budget quota, she said.
Party President said that the climatic conditions of the state are different in comparison to other states. You cannot survive on one gas cylinder for two months; they need to increase the cap.
She also said that youngsters were harassed and detained during the protests on blasphemous video, Everywhere people protested against blasphemy but here young people were detained illegally.
I think the chaotic condition in Kashmir suits to National Conference interests as it has never allowed peace to prevail. Actually this party in no way can compete on the governance front once the situation comes to normal in the state. NCs claim of normalcy is a façade and same gets exposed by the arrest of 12 year old boy Faizan, and when Geelanis visit to Lal Chowk becomes news, said Mehbooba.
Refereeing to growing inflation, FDI, cap on LPG and hike in diesel prices, Mehbooba asked the state government take a cue from the Delhi government and take people friendly measures on these issues.
She also blamed the NC for eroding credibility and mandate of anti graft and transparency institutions in the state. Mehbooba said the State Information Commission has been rendered useless like the State Accountability Commission (SAC) which has been made a toothless tiger by the present government. Similarly, the present government has made Panchayati institutions defunct. RTI Act has also been made irrelevant by the government since amendments have been carried out in its rules, Mehbooba said while demanding security and monthly honorarium for Panchs and Sarpanchs to meet their day to day expenses.
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