JAMMU: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said Wednesday that elected village representatives needed to be empowered in Jammu and Kashmir.
This was a veiled attack on the National Conference, which rules the state in coalition with the Congress. Also the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah also is known to share a friendship with Mr Gandhi.
Addressing a rally of Congress panchs and sarpanchs here, Mr Gandhi made it clear that he was aware that they enjoyed virtually no powers in the state.
The situation will change only when the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments were implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, which has a constitution of its own.
“What are the rights of the panchs, sarpanchs and local body representatives in Jammu and Kashmir?
Answering the question himself, he said: “The fact is they have no rights at all. Our first and foremost priority is the empowerment of panchs and sarpanchs in Jammu and Kashmir.
It is widely known that the National Conference has been resisting the implementation of the constitutional provisions related to village representatives, saying the state’s own constitution had enough empowering provisions for them.
“The work panches and sarpanches can do, no MLA or minister can do because the ministers and MLAs do not have access to information which the panches and sarpanches have.”
It is widely known that the National Conference has been resisting the implementation of the constitutional provisions related to village representatives, saying the state’s own constitution had enough empowering provisions for them.
But Mr Gandhi underlined that this issue needed to be resolved.
“We have a government in Jammu and Kashmir and we will continue to mount pressure for the implementation of 73rd and 74th amendments in the state.
“This is a struggle I will fight for you and I will continue to come here and mount pressure till you are given the powers without which you cannot function properly.
“For me, the most important thing is the future of the elected village representatives.”
Gandhi said the other priorities of the Congress in the state were training thousands of local youths for employment and the empowerment of women.
