73rd Amendment Wont Be Incorporated: NC

Srinagar, Oct 16: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar Tuesday said the 73rd amendment of the Indian constitution will not be incorporated in the state.
Our stand on the issue is clear and firm that the amendment will not be implemented. It not applicable to the state directly but some provisions of that can be incorporated in the state act. Sagar said while talking to KNS, adding we are only looking at certain feasible provisions of the 73 rd amendment, which in no way violates the article 370. He said those who are against incorporating certain provisions of the 73rd amendment are confused and dont understand law and constitution.
The minister said that the National Conference wont allow violation of article 370 and that it will ensure that there is no dilution to it (article 370). We are committed to autonomy of the state, however, central laws, where ever they are fair and useful; we incorporate them in the state.
On the Peoples Democratic Partys stand that the National Conference has surrendered before the Congress, he said their statement is baseless. How can PDP criticize us, they were in favour of implementation of 73rd amendment and congress had said they (PDP) are supporting them, he said.
When asked about deferment of the Block Development Council elections after issuance of notification, Sagar said such things do happen in a democratic setup.
It is not a big deal, such things do happen in a democracy, he added.
Pertinently, the state cabinet on Tuesday brought an ordinance to cancel the notification already issued for conduct of BDC polls in the state in wake of demands for reservation in favour of SC, ST and Women.
Over the last couple of months there has been a latent demand from various stake holders as well as the opinion leaders who have been associated with the governance of Panchayats in different parts of the country, for bringing in certain changes in the states Panchayati Raj Act in a bid to further strengthen Panchayats and also make reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women.
According to official spokesperson, taking cognizance of divergent views on the issue, Chief Minister constituted a core group of the alliance partners (National Conference Congress) comprising of Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Forests Mian Altaf Ahmad, Minister for Industries Surjeet Singh Slathia and Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana from National Conference and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma, MLA G.A. Mir, MLC Ravinder Sharma, MLC Bashir Ahmad Magrey from Congress to study and evaluate these views and suggest a pragmatic and workable roadmap.
The core group held series of meetings and consultations in the last one week to consider the various opinions that have emanated in the past couple of months. The core group made certain recommendations which were considered in a High level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on Sunday, the 14th October and attended by President J&K Pradesh Congress Committee Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz along with other members from National Conference and Congress wherein a decision was taken that the state cabinet should be apprised of the recommendations made by this core group for a suitable decision in the matter.
The state cabinet on Tuesday finally decided to bring an ordinance for cancellation of General Elections of Chairman of Block Development Councils.

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