ZAHID MAQBOOL
Srinagar, Apr16: Sarpanchs on Monday threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike if government fails to come clear on the implementation of the JK Panchayat Raj Act within 15 days.
  “We will not wait now. We are serving the last ultimatum to the government. We will go on hunger strike from May 1,” Convener of J&K Panchayati Movement, Shahnawaz Sultan told a news conference here.
 He said the government has been assuring people that it would empower Panchayati Raj Institutions for nearly a year, “Till date nothing has been done,” he said. “Government has not taken any steps to make necessary amendments in the State Panchayati Raj Act of 1989.”
 Shafiq Mir, a Sarpanch from Rajouri and Convener of J&K Panchayat Conference said,
 “The government should make its stand clear about holding of two tier elections at block and district level. They are giving a lame excuses and are buying time. All parties are responsible for this. When they have to implement AFSPA and other controversial acts that time they don’t give any excuses,” Mir said.     
 He accused the ruling as well as opposition parties of dividing Sarpanchs on party lines for their own interests. “Both NC and PDP are united on one issue of not giving powers to the Panchayat members. Inside the assembly no one raises issue of our powers. But outside all of them raise hue and cry. They are our common enemies,” he said.
 Launching a scathing attack on New Delhi Sarpanchs said that huge voter turn out during Panchayat elections should not be misread as vote for India. “We are not against Azadi and people have not voted for India. There is no connection between the two. I made this clear to Interlocutors in Delhi also,” said Ashiq Hussain, a Sarpanch from Kupwara.
 Raja Muzafar Bhat, facilitator of the conference said, “Panchayat elections happen everywhere. But why India is projecting Panchayat elections in Kashmir as vote for India.”

Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST