Kalakote (Rajouri), Apr 24: Breaking his silence over the Panchayat empowerment row, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday said that repeated public utterances by the Congress leadership in the state ‘may create problems in the functioning of the coalition.’
“They (Congress leaders) should not indulge in mudslinging and instead the issues should be raised at proper platform,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told media persons when asked about the statement of PCC Chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz accusing National Conference of creating hurdles in the empowerment of Panchayats in the state.
“He (Soz) should discuss these issues in coordination committee and not make such statements in public,” Omar said adding, “We have asked our leaders and workers to avoid public confrontations. But the way Congress leaders were publicly speaking against the government, we may not be able to control our leaders.” This practice, he said, will be against the interest of the government as it “may create problems in the functioning of the coalition.”
Earlier, he held Election Commission of India responsible for the delay in holding elections for Block Development Councils in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Some people are trying to create confusion by accusing the state government for deliberate delay in holding the elections for Block Development Councils but they must know that the state government has no control over Election Commission of India which has to conduct polls for the Councils,” Omar Abdullah said while indirectly hitting at both Congress as well as opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Addressing a public meeting here, the Chief Minister said that his government is committed for establishment of three-tire powerful Panchayat system and the Rural Development Department has been directed to initiate the process for holding BDC elections. “The process will commence immediately when offices open in Srinagar after Darbar move”, he said.
The Chief Minister said that four seats in Legislative Council are reserved for Panchayats adding that election to these is to be conducted by the Election Commission of India. He said the delay in the process of establishing block bodies was because of this reason and now decks have been cleared for holding the election of MLCs reserved for Panchayats which would follow constitution of block and district Panchayat councils.
Omar said that some political parties were also trying to create a misunderstanding regarding the control of the Panchayats at the district level. “This is only a misnomer that Panchayats will be controlled by the Members of Legislative Assembly”, he said adding that the Panchyats will work independently and will have no outside interference.
Targeting the opposition PDP, the Chief Minister said, “It was your dispensation which degraded the urban local body institutions to zero degree and made a fun of their respected members.”
Underlining the holding of Panchayats as an historic achievement of his government, Omar Abdullah said that had the main opposition party (PDP) conducted these elections they would have unleashed propaganda and self praising campaign for 100 years.
“The Uri-Muzaffarabad route was opened after the agreement reached between India and Pakistan but in this regard PDP created such hype of self praising and blowing of own trumpet giving an impression that this party was distributing tickets for travelling in the bus service to Muzaffarabad”, he said.
“Similarly, they talked much about healing touch but did nothing during their dispensation. It is our government which removed bunkers, brought in rehabilitation policy, launched Awami Mulakat programmes to reach out people in all areas, introduced unemployment allowance, expanded job orbit for youth and transferred power from the Secretariat to the grass root levels by holding Panchayat elections”, he said referring to a list of new initiated and path breaking measures the coalition government has taken during the last three years in the State to bring in transparency, restrict corruption and involve people in governance.
“During electioneering when we talked about providing unemployment allowance to the youth, our detractors smiled declaring it impossible. But we made it possible and presently thousands of unemployed youth are getting this benefit”, he said adding that the recently elected Utter Pradesh Government is now introducing a similar initiative in UP taking a page from our policy programme in this regard.
Abdullah said that peace and progress with thrust on creation of economic activities and job opportunities is the central idea of the NC-Congress alliance. “We are working in tandem to mitigate difficulties of people and restore peace and stability in the State”, he said adding that the impact of balanced development unleashed in the State during the last three years is amply visible on ground.
“The next three years will witness further fillip and fast tracking of development in the State. We do not say that we have done everything but it is fact that our government has reached out to all corners of the State in the process of development”, he elaborated.
On corruption, the Chief Minister said that they (PDP) only raised the slogans and did nothing practical on ground. “Instead we brought in powerful Accountability Commission, Right to Information Act and Public Service Guarantee Act to bring in transparency and check the malpractices and corruptions at various levels”, he said and also mentioned the third party monitoring and e-tendering launching by his government first time in the State to address the burning issue of corruption.
Omar Abdullah asked the people to strengthen communal harmony and brotherhood at all costs. “Some vested elements would try to wedge apart you in the name of region, religion, caste and creed, but you have to exhibit your resolve to maintain State’s rich ethos of mutual love and brotherhood prevailing between various sections of the society and between various regions”, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Forests Mian Altaf Ahmad, Vice-Chairman Kissan Advisory Board Rachpal Singh and Provincial President National Conference Rattan Lal Gupta listed the achievements registered by the coalition government on all fronts during the last three years.
In his speech Mian Altaf Ahmad said that the commitment made by the government to the people for holistic development would be fulfilled adding that a network of schemes have already been initiated in the State in this regard.
He referred to the endeavours the Chief Minister is making to seek peaceful and prosperous future for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He also lambasted the opposition for circulating false propaganda to astray people for vested interests.
The Chief Minister also laid the foundation of Rs. 11.72 crore Degree College complex at Nowshera.
The Degree College complex will come up on an area of over 102 kanals of land procured for this purpose. The college building is likely to be completed in 2014.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST