Equates PDP Leadership With Dream Merchants
GANDERBAL (ONS) – National Conference Thursday accused the Peoples Democratic Party leadership of luring panchayat members through various tactics and money power.
It said women panchayat members were reportedly being presented make-up kits to tempt them for casting their vote for PDP candidates.
Addressing a meeting of panches and sarpanches here this morning, the ruling partys working president and chief minister, Omar Abdullah, ridiculed the PDP leadership for cultivating such undemocratic, illegal and enticing devises to gain support in the MLCs election which he claimed would prove suicidal for this party.
They (PDP leader ship) should understand that the panchayat members are reputed social activists of high stature and honesty and cannot be drawn in through such mundane and disgrace (sic) methods, Omar said, adding that sarpanches and panches would teach them a lesson for considering them salable.
Hailing the National Conference Congress coalition as representative of the voice of state people, Omar said the coalition rendered public service equitably and holistically as part of the political agenda of both the parties.
Omar said the government created panchayats to shift the centre of power from secretariat to grassroots level and help involvement of public representatives in policy formulation and implementation of development schemes. In a state like Jammu and Kashmir, where 70 per cent population resides in villages, comprehensive development is attainable through panchayats only, he said.
This is our belief and we held elections to panchayats. You are to us just like children to their parents. We know that we have rejuvenated Panchayat Raj concept after 30 years and like a child you need our hand for development, he said, and added that coalition was for empowered and fully grown Panchayat system. He said various measures had been initiated to make Panchayat Raj effective and fully powerful.
Omar said NC-Congress coalition partners have given you best and senior most leaders to represents in the Legislative Council and work for your strengthening and welfare. He said voting NC-Congress candidates is voting to strengthening Panchayat Raj and ensuring its safeguard. He asked panches and sarpanches to vote for NC-Congress candidates, and pave the way for development and growth of Panchayats in the State.
Those (PDP leadership) who are making tall promises to you for your empowerment at present have in the past tried their best to render panchayats and its members subservient to administration. They (PDP) tried to empower government to dissolve Panchayats at its sweet will, he said and referred to the passing of Bill No. 2 by PDP lead government in Legislative Assembly and Council in 2002 to authorise government to dissolve Panchayats at any time. This indicates their intension and concept of Panchayats, he substantiated and said, had NC not objected to this action of PDP and Governor rejected the Bill, the Panchayat Act would have been made toothless by PDP, he maintained.
Do not go by their promises. They are dream merchants and sell dreams to people to deceive them for grabbing power, he told panches and sarpanches asking them to remain cautious against the machination of PDP. He said this party attempts to sneak in the rank of Congress-NC coalition forte and divide the workers and panchayat members and get benefit out of it. False propaganda and divisive politics is trait of PDP and its tries to survive on falsehood and blame game, he added.
Omar also referred to the miserable status of urban local bodies and Municipal Corporations during the tenure of PDP and said that PDP dispensation made these institutions dysfunctional, and starved them for wants of funds. He said making promises when outside government is the trademark of PDP and forgetting people and the promises made to them when in chair is an open secret before the people.
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