JAMMU, Nov 3: Panchs and sarpanchs in Jammu and Kashmir have set a 24-hr deadline for the state government to makes its stand clear on providing them security. The deadline was set by them a day after the report of death threat to them by militant group Hizbul Mujahideen supremo Syed Salah-ud-din appeared in the local media.
“The government must clear its stand on security to us in 24 hour. Depending upon government’s response, we will chalk out our strategy in a meeting of executive body of panchs and sarpanch,” said Aman Sharma, general secretary, J&K Panchayat conference, at a conference.
Salah-ud-din in an interview to Delhi based weekly, which was published local dailies, had said, “Panchs and Sarpanchs are exploited by India project Kashmir as pro-India and as such, they will continue to be targeted.”
Earlier last month, the panchs and sarpachs had threatened to resign en-masse resignation, demanding security, after their colleagues were killed.
They also met Congress general secretary and MP Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.
According to police, only three panchs and sarpanchs have been killed so far.
In an interview to New York Times recently, chief minister Omar Abdullah said, “Inquiries are pointing in a particular direction. What is becoming increasingly apparent is these were not militant attacks…..There seems to be more of a personal rivalry.”
Sharma said they are just elected person and have got nothing to do with the issue of Kashmir.
“We are not to solve Kashmir issue. If Salah-ud-din has some issues he can hold talks and sort it out with the Govt of India. Issuing death sentence to unarmed Panchs doesn’t make any sense,” he said.
Conference supreme Shafiq Mir, Imtiyaz Beg, Bashmir Ahmad Malik and Ghulam Hassan Panju were also present.
The state has 30,000 panchs and sarpanchs.
Panchs and sarpanchs said if they government empowers them in true sense then the people will themselves protect them.
“Once we are truly empowered and able to do service to the public. Then people will realize our worth and they will protect us. Right now, we are just dummy elected bodies,” Sharma said.
(Courtesy: Hindustan Times)
