Amendment in JKPRI Act not acceptable: Panchayat Conference Creation of territorial constituency disempowerment of BDCs: Mir

JAMMU, October 20: Terming the amendment made by the Union Government of India in Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj act 1989 as an attempt to dis-empower the newly established Panchayati Raj system in Jammu and Kashmir and against the repeated promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding strengthening PRI system in Jammu and Kashmir.
It is pertinent to mention here Central government has made and amendment in Jammu and Kashmir PRI act though which district development councils will be elected through direct vote of people . 14 constituencies have been created in each district called “ Teritorial Constituencies”. These constituencies also include the jurisdiction of already elected block development councils.
Speaking to press Conference here in winter capital Jammu, large number of elected BDC Chairpersons led by Shafiq Mir Chairman All J&K Panchayat Conference expressed their anguish and resentment against the amendment made in Jammu Kashmir Panchayati Raj act saying that this was an attempt to dis-empower the newly established Panchayati Raj system in Jammu and Kashmir .
Explaining their concern, Shafiq Mir who is also elected BDC Chairman of Block Bufliaz in district Poonch said that a territorial constituency has been created within the jurisdiction of elected Block Development Council saying that this new public representative will be some sort of clash with the already elected block development chairman. Not only this, by this amendment, the elected BDC chairpersons will not have right to vote or to context the district chairman election which totally injustice and against the spirit of Panchayati Raj Act. Mir said this has been done to enter the political activists in this institution.
Terming it unfortunate, Shafiq Mir said that it was them when all thse political parties had boycotted these elections but they contested. Now the doors have been opened for political activists to enter in this institution it which clear injustice and it has demoralized the Panchayat leaders of Jammu and Kashmir. Mir said, not only this, “even the claims of our Prime Minister to strengthen the PRI system in Jammu Kashmir seems to have been negated.”
Demanding the rollback of this amendment, Mir said the tier elections should be conducted as per JKPRI Act 1989.
Other BDC Chairpersons who spoke on the occasion, were Arun Kumar Sharma, Surinder Kumar Bhagat, Sarshad Natnoo, Brijeshwer Singh and Aftab Ahmed Beig.