Islamabad (Anantnag), Apr 25: The members of the Panchayati Raj Movement, an organization formed by Panchs and Sarpanchs, from different parts of the Valley on Wednesday held a protest against the district administration here in south Kashmir alleging that were not allowed to hold an awareness programme  on the Panchayati Raj Act. However the district administration said that they had not sought the necessary permission.
 About 100 odd members assembled outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office and raised slogans against the district administration. Later, they filed a complaint before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) against the Deputy Commissioner (DC) demanding action against him.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, the members of the organization said that they had booked the conference hall of the Dak Bungalow on April 21 after paying Rs 3000 however on reaching the spot they were stopped by the police deployed there and were asked to leave.
 “We were informed by the Police that the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Islamabad has objected to our gathering,” said Shahnawaz Sultan, a Sarpanch from Chadoora and Convener of the organization.
 He alleged that though they approached the DC, but he refused to let them hold the program. “We are holding a series of conferences to create awareness about the Panchayati Raj Act and today’s conference was a part of our program,” said Basharat Maqbool, another Sarpanch from Gopalpora area.
 He alleged that holding Panchayat elections was an attempt to hoodwink the masses and give New Delhi an impression that the situation in Kashmir had improved. “The government is not serious about empowering Panchayats and is only plating politics over it,” he added.
 The Jammu and Kashmir Panchs and Sarpanchs Association however called the protests by these members unjustified. “These protests are unjustified and uncalled for as our association was not taken on board before organizing this program,” said Khurshid Malik, General Secretary of the Association.
 However, DC, Islamabad, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, said Panchs and Sarpanchs were not authorized by him or the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) to hold the conference. “Even the local Panchs and Sarpanchs had communicated that they had nothing to do with the conference,” he added.
 “I even called a few people from them into my office and asked them to prove their credentials. I also asked them to submit an application on their letter head; however they failed to do so,” said the DC.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST