Islamabad (Anantnag), Sep 5: Stating that there was no justification for the detention of minors, CPI (M) State General Secretary and legislator MY Tarigami Wednesday said that instead of booking the juveniles under serious offences, the Government should send them to reform centers.
“There can certainly be no justification of detaining minors on the charges of stone pelting and such acts are highly condemnable,” Tarigami said while speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a convention in Dak Bungalow here.
He was reacting to the statement of Minister for Science and Technology, Aga Ruhullah, wherein he had justified the detention of 12-year old Faizan by saying that police had detained him on reasonable grounds and under provisions of law.
Tarigami said that such repressive measures are bound to boomerang and result in further alienation.
“I fail to understand how a 12-year old kid can wage war against the State,” Tarigami said.
He said that instead of booking children indulging in stone pelting under severe offences, the Government should have created reform centers for them.
Terming the recent attacks and threats to Panchayat members as the handiwork of elements with vested interests, Tarigami said, “The Panchayat institutions are not the law making bodies, instead they are there to contribute in the developmental activities of rural areas. So threats and attacks on Panchayat members is the handiwork of those vested interests who want to paralyze this institution.”
Tarigami lamented the ‘policy of the state Government of not fully empowering the Panchayat institutions.’ “We have learnt that some officials are still creating hurdles in the smooth functioning of Panchayats. As such, for the real devolution of power from secretariat to villages, the Panchayats should be empowered.”
Tarigami also called for early conduct of urban local bodies and Block Development Council elections. “In order to ensure development in cities and towns, the election of local bodies is must and should happen as soon as possible.”
On the recent amendments in the JK RTI Rules, Tarigami said, “The Government should bear it in mind that by bringing in the Act, they have not done any favor to people. But people achieved it after fighting for it in order to ensure accountability and transparency in the system.”
He said that instead of making it more effective, the Government has weakened the Act.
“I will definitely take up the issue of restoring the Act in the upcoming Assembly session,” Tarigami said adding that their party will launch an agitation against the move.
Earlier, Panchs and Sarpanchs of South Kashmir apprised him about various problems.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST