Jammu, Apr 28: The issue of bringing a legislation to grant constitutional status to Panchyati Raj institutions in Jammu and Kashmir would be taken up after government offices will reopen in Srinagar, chief minister Omar Abdullah today said.
The state government shifts its capital from Jammu to Srinagar in the first week of May every year.
“When the offices in Srinagar will reopen, I will sit with Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister to undertake an exercise in this regard (to bring relevant legislation to provide constitutional guarantee to powers of panchayats in state),” Omar said while addressing village heads) in Mur border belt here.
“Your powers would be given constitutional and legal status,” Omar told the village heads. “In order to do away with your apprehensions about the powers given to you by way of Cabinet order, we will provide constitutional guarantee to the powers conferred on the panchayats,” he said to them.
Omar highlighted the role of grass root democratic institutions in the development of villages. Meanwhile, Opposition PDP alleged that the Omar Abdullah government was delaying the empowerment of Panchayati Raj institutions in the state by indulging into “deceit” tactics.
Patron of Peoples Democratic Party Mufti Muhammad Sayeed said, “A period of almost one year has passed since the panchayat polls, but neither block nor district committees have been constituted so far.” Sayeed was speaking in a public meeting at Kot village.
He alleged that elections of four legislative council seats, reserved for Panchayat members, has nothing to do with constituting Block and District Committees.
“Empowering panchayats and conducting elections of legislative council seats are two separate things and there is no reason for the government to delay empowerment of panchayats by taking excuse of Legislative Council elections," he said.
"It is not the question of implementing 73rd or 74th amendments, but the real issue is delegating powers to the panchayats like other parts of the country to strengthen the institution in the state," he said.
He also held Congress responsible for not initiating steps to strengthen panchayats in the state.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST