J-K govt weakening democracy by amending Panchayat Raj Act: NC

Opposition National Conferencetoday accused the ruling PDP-BJP alliance of "weakening" the democracy in Jammu and Kashmir as it termed the amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act-1989 a "direct assault on democratic ethos".
The party alleged that with the amendments the people at the grassroots level were feeling "deprived and disempowered."
"Instead of strengthening the mechanism of third tier of democracy and encouraging larger public participation in decision making at local levels, the PDP-BJP coalition has ruthlessly hammered the urges and aspirations of rural population," NC's Provincial chief Devender Singh Rana said.
He assailed the PDP-BJP combine for "bulldozing" opposition voice in the Assembly and said the time-tested and country-wide acclaimed J&K PRC Act has fallen victim to the vested interest as the ruling alliance believed in "manipulating" the elections of Sarpanchs.

"This is public acknowledgement of zero-base of the PDP and BJP in rural areas of the state," he said.
He said the "egoistic and anti-people" government got its way and passed the Bill.

"Now the war against anti-people measure would be fought peacefully and democratically in every village of the state," he said.
He said National Conference will generate mass awareness on the amendment which is aimed at "scuttling democracy".
Rana said during the just concluded Budget Session, the government was forced to withdraw the New Industrial Policy and the SRO's with regard to implementation of taxes.
"The flip-flop of the insensitive alliance speaks volumes about its administrative naivety and inexperience in governance," he said.

Rana said NC will mobilise public opinion in every mohalla and village, against erratic power and other utility services issues like drinking water and rations.
He alleged that in order to conceal their failures, the PDP and BJP were subtly promoting regional disharmony and communal polarisation.
"We will fight these machinations tooth and nail," he said.