Jammu, Apr 9: Hitting out at its alliance partner, Congress Monday accused the National Conference (NC) of creating hurdles in the empowerment of local bodies, including Panchayats, in the state.
“Congress in Jammu and Kashmir is strongly in favour of empowerment of the local bodies but unfortunately NC seems to be least interested in the implementation of 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in Jammu and Kashmir”, state Congress chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz said at a public meeting here today.
Strongly advocating early implementation of the constitutional amendments, Soz suggested, “National Conference leadership should open the law books to know more about 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment in the larger interest of society.”
“We don’t want confrontation with NC but will pursue our agenda and demands through democratic means”, he added.
Pertinently, Soz’s anti-NC tirade comes days after the reappointment of firebrand NC leader Dr Mustafa Kamaal as the party’s additional general secretary. Kamaal was earlier removed from the post, for his statements against the Congress leadership including AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
Soz today said that constituting Panchayats in the state was not enough till these are given sufficient powers by incorporating 73rd constitutional amendment. “We have asked our coalition partner NC in the cabinet and outside to work for implementing 73rd constitutional amendment, so that Panchayats are strengthened,” Prof Soz said adding; “The constitutional amendment was the dream of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and Congress will continue to work for its implementation”.
He said Congress also favors paying honorarium (pocket money) not salary to elected Sarpanchs, Panchs, Numberdars and Chowkidars.
Congress ministers have raised these issues in the Cabinet and it is up to cabinet to consider upon them as soon as possible.
Highlighting the achievements of the Congress, Soz said that due to efforts of Congress leadership train to Poonch/Rajouri from Jammu is sanctioned; train to Doda/Kishtwar is also in the pipeline. Connecting these areas to the rest of country via train link will change overall scenario of these areas, he said.
For solving issues of refugees and daily wagers of different departments, he said the matter would be raised with the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram tomorrow in Jammu.
Soz also said that he would meet the state Chief Secretary for removing disparities in wages in different regions of the state as daily wagers had submitted many memorandums to him and other party leaders.

STRENGTHENING OF CBMS
Commenting on the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan, Soz said that Civil Society of Pakistan wants cordial relations with India to get benefit from the largest democracy of the world. “Majority of them want more Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). But for this terrorism has to be checked as terrorism is no more limited to any country and religion”, he said.
The people of Pakistan are now talking of friendship, peace and mutual cooperation, he said adding that during his recent visit to Pakistani, the Civil Society suggested that there should be a joint forum where parliamentarians of both the countries could exchange their ideas.

ON HAFIZ SAYEED
He said that in spite of furnishing “solid evidence” against Lashkar-e-Toiba founder and Hafiz Saeed by India, it is not sure that Pakistan would act against him.
“I am not so sure of Pakistan taking action against Hafiz Saeed.  But Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues have given solid evidence against Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) who was responsible for carnage in Mumbai,” Soz told reporters after the rally.
“I am sure of evidence given by them to Pakistan - in the talks with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari,” he said.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Minister for Revenue and Relief Raman Bhalla, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma, MP Madan Lal Sharma, Vice Chairman Gujjar Bakerwal Advisory Board Bashir Naaz, former Mayor Jammu Manmohan Singh, MLC Ravinder Sharma, Dharm Pal Sharma, Mula Ram, Thakur Hari Singh, Gurmukh Singh, and Swarn Lata besides others.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 9 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 9 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST