SRINAGAR, Oct 15: Authorities in Kashmir have decided to put on hold elections to Block Development Councils but will be making amendments to the state Panchayati Raj Act, after a long standoff over the issue between the Congress and the National Conference party, both of which rule the state through a coalition government.
“The state cabinet which met here today after due diligence and thoroughly studying the recommendations of the core group and after considering the opinion of different people, decided that to strengthen the resolve of the government for a robust Panchayati Raj system.
(So) certain changes have to be incorporated in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, thereby creating a steel-frame of democracy at the grass root level,” an official spokesperson said on Monday.
Elections for village Panchayats in 2011 saw a humongous participation by people of this Himalayan region where a 23-year-old violence is waning.
But ever since the issue had been a point of criticism for the chief minister as the congress have been vocal about “more empowerment” of panchayats by bringing in changes in the state Panchayati Act and also by ensuring reservation for scheduled tribes, scheduled castes and women.
A core group comprising senior ministers and members of each of the coalition parties was constituted to “suggest a pragmatic and workable roadmap” as the Congress party had been demanding incorporation of the 73rd amendment of the Indian constitution in the state’s Panchayati Raj Act among.
On the contrary, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the working president of the National Conference, had said he believed such measures were unnecessary as the state has its own constitution and that the act was “enough for the empowerment of panchayats”.
“In order to bring these changes in a transparent manner after due diligence and deliberations with all the stake holders, the cabinet here today decided to bring an ordinance for cancellation of General Elections of Chairman of Block Development Councils,” the spokesperson said.
However, a local agency KNS quoted a senior minister as saying that the decision to cancel the elections and to amend the state panchayat act was taken in an “emergency cabinet meeting” called by Omar Abdullah after he flew back from New Delhi.
