All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today asked Congress to take serious note of its ally National Conference's "dilly-dallying tactics" to grant power to panchayat members in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We demand that the Congress high command should take serious note of its ruling coalition partner, National Conference, in Jammu and Kashmir over its dilly-dallying tactics to grant powers to panchayat members. We suggested that it (Congress) should pressure the ruling party for complete empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)," AJKPC General Secretary Anil Sharma said.
A delegation of AJKPC met Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi here yesterday and submitted him a memorandum, demanding extension of 73rd amendment of the Constitution to J&K Panchayat Raj Act in toto.
Sharma demanded that the elections to block and district level panchayati raj bodies be held at the earliest.
He also demanded adequate compensation from the Centre for all the Panches and Sarpanches of J&K who have been killed by militants.
The elected panchayat members apprised Rahul of NC's "stiff opposition" to incorporation of 73rd amendment in state law to give powers to more than 33,000 grassroots level representatives of the people.
