Jammu, June 14: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday slammed "Delhi" for talking to him through newspapers.
Apparently angry over a front-page report in a Delhi-based daily, on the central government asking him to transfer power to Panchayats in the state, Omar posted on microblogging site Twitter: "When will 'Delhi' learn not to talk to me via newspapers."
He also posted the link of the story that appeared in the newspaper.
Quoting sources the report said that the chief minister had been advised to empower Panchayats “to avoid another phase of trouble in Kashmir.”
It said, “With Panchayat elections witnessing a record voter turnout, the Centre is keen to get JK government’s act together on the promise of devolution of powers.”
According to the report, the Centre is concerned that if this entire lot of newly elected representatives were not given the benefit of devolution, then a strong anti-government backlash could well be in store.
“Centre has made it clear to Omar Abdullah government that it must immediately act on transferring power to newly elected Panchayats to help cool tempers,” the report states.
It states that worried over the inputs that slightest provocation in the Valley could trigger another phase of unrest, the centre after carrying a detailed review of the situation has also asked the Army to be “extremely cautious” in its conduct and guard against provoking the local population.
Later in the evening the chief minister, while participating in a discussion on a news channel, also expressed his dismay over the newspaper report. “It irritates me”, he said when his attention was brought to his comment on the microblogging site.
“It would not have been a problem if same things were being done to the Chief Ministers of the other states”, he said adding, “Why it should only be for Jammu and Kashmir and for that matter only with me in Jammu and Kashmir”.
Claiming that the devolution of the powers to Panchayats was one of the priorities of his government, the chief minister said that an impression was being created that the state government would have to do it only because centre wants it. “It undermines my position also”, he added.
Once again admitting that he would be facing resistance within the system while devolving the powers to the panchayats, Omar said, “We have to work out a system where an institution and authority of an MLA remains undisturbed”.
“This would be one of the biggest challenges for us. But I am not going to buy the argument that the devolution will undermine the position of an MLA”, he added.
Omar had admitted Sunday that there were forces within the state’s political and administrative setup, who were resisting empowerment of Panchayats.
"The resistance to empower them (Panchayats) from within the system will have to be tactfully dealt with, but with a strong will - a way normally emerges," he posted on Twitter.
He had also expressed satisfaction over the successful completion of the multi-phased Panchayat polls, which saw nearly 80 per cent voter turnout.
"We concluded the Panchayat elections in the Valley yesterday (Saturday). I never in my wildest dreams expected such a smooth ride through 16 phases," he had said.
Jammu and Kashmir has its own Panchayat Act which is not at par with the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution, guaranteeing a set of far-reaching powers to Panchayats. In J&K’s prevailing system, the local MLA is very powerful arbiter of finances at the district and village levels, while in the rest of the country many of these powers rest with Panchayats.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST