PDP accuses NC-led govt of undermining Panchayats in J&K

People's Democratic Party vice president Sardar Trilok Singh Bajwa, while addressing a series of meetings with Panchayat members at Ramban, Batote and Banihal, alleged that the Omar Abdullah-led government had eroded the sanctity of the Panchayati Raj institutions.

Bajwa claimed that the government had not taken any step to empower the Panchayats despite their elections having taken place one and half years back.

"The decision to cancel Block Development Council elections also exposed double standard of the government headed by Omar Abdullah," he alleged.

Seeking support for party candidates namely Ved Mahajan and Gurmeet Singh Bajwa, who are contesting for Legislative Council elections, the PDP leader promised that the party would take effective steps to empower the Panchayats.

Taking a dig at state government for not empowering Panchayats, Mahajan said neither district committees nor a block committee had been constituted in the past one and half years.

He warned that the PDP will carry out protests if the government continues with its "gimmicks" to undermine democratic institutions.

"We will agitate for strengthening democratic institutions in the state," Mahajan said.