Kathua, April 15: Taking a dig at the Congress for raising public outcry over non-implementation of 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed said that the coalition parties were equally and jointly responsible for the degradation and erosion of democratic institutions in the state.
“Congress leaders have been demanding extension of these two amendments in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen Panchayat Raj institutions but the party (Congress), which is part of the government, has failed to even convince its coalition partner to conduct elections of Block and District bodies”, Sayeed said while addressing one-day convention of party workers, here today.
Expressing serious concern over what he termed the “arrogant attitude” of the National Conference (NC) led coalition regime for not delegating powers to the Panchayats, Sayeed said the delay in constituting Block and District Committees was a clear indication that this regime, “with dictatorial mindset”, was not interested in strengthening democratic institutions.
“Almost one year has been passed after completion of the Panchayat elections but Block and District are yet to be constituted because the government is not interested to empower and strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State”, he said, adding, “I do not know at which capacity the Congress leaders have been demanding extension of 73rd and 74th amendments because they are equally responsible for eroding sanctity of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state”, the former Chief Minister said.
Coming down heavily on coalition regime for undermining the democratic institutions, Mufti reminded that civic bodies’ elections, which were due in the month of February 2010, are being delayed on one pretext or the other.  “During the last three years this regime has eroded and undermined all prestigious democratic institutions be it Assembly, local bodies or Panchayati Raj Institutions,” he said.
Sayeed cautioned that such authoritarian attitude adopted by the coalition regime would prove disastrous for the state. He reminded that infamous 1987 rigged Assembly elections had badly shattered peoples’ faith in the democratic system.
Hailing recent decisions of India and Pakistan to dismantle all trade barriers and ease visa restrictions, Mufti said that Indo-Pak bonhomie at Wagah border was result of the pro-peace policies being initiated by his party.
He said that PDP has pioneered a political and economic agenda to establish sustainable peace in the subcontinent.
While reminding party workers about the historic rally on former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpyee at Srinagar on April 18, 2003 where he (Vajpayee) had extended hands of friendship towards Pakistan despite tension on border, Sayeed said that historic event was the beginning of the era of peace in this region and credit for this goes the PDP.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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