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| ‘Diagonally opposed.....but all well with coalition’ | | No danger to coalition , would continue to exert pressure on NC: Congress | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 2: The State Congress leaders today reiterated there was no option to empowerment of Panchayats in the State other than incorporating 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments and that Congress would continue to persist on this demand till it is implemented. Senior leader and MP Madan Lal Sharma in the same breath asserted that notwithstanding some differences between the ruling allies over this issue, was no danger to the coalition Government in the State. Congress leader stated that party high command has made its stand amply clear over the issue and even as there is friendship between the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi but it should not be construed that party would compromise on the issue of incorporation of these amendments in the Panchayati Raj Act in the State. Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma also asserted Congress would continue to exert pressure on its ally in the State.
"The friendship between Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah would go on …so will the coalition continue but there are certain issues like implementation of the 73rd and 74th amendments in Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act for the empowerment of Panchayats, which Congress wants to be addressed at the earliest …..these are must for smooth and better coordination between the allies ," Madan Lal Sharma said this while speaking to media on the sideline of a party function organsied to pay tributes to Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi.
The Congress MP known for being vocal on issues core to party ideology urged the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to what he said 'come out of pressure and implement the Panchayati Raj amendments as this would enable coalition to run smoothly and for longer time in the State.' He, however, said that misunderstanding, if any, between the two coalition partners will be solved and sorted out.
"I appeal the Chief Minister not to make it a prestige issue. On one side, the NC says the coalition partners will fight the next elections jointly but on the other hand they tend to avoid the demand of their partner," he said, adding that Omar should consider these things at the earliest. The MP further said the ruling NC should not create hurdles instead it should incorporate the amendments in Jammu and Kashmir for the empowerment of the Panchayats for which Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz has also been stressing from day one.
"It is ironical that the National Conference (NC) talks about autonomy in the State but they avoid giving powers to the Panchayats for their empowerment….", he said .
The senior Congress leader also contended that the ruling National Conference did not want to conduct Panchayat elections in the State and it was due to the pressure from the Congress party that elections were conducted. However, it has served no purpose as the Panchayat were still not empowered.
Regarding the names of two Congress Ministers who met CM, Madan Lal Sharma said that Omar Abdullah should disclose the names of two Congress Ministers who met him and extended their supported to NC on the issue of 73rd and 74th amendments in Jammu and Kashmir.
"He should disclose names of the two Congress Ministers. They are not above the party and the Congress will take action against them accordingly," he said.
Earlier, while speaking in the function, Sham Lal Sharma also reiterated that Congress had not given up nor would it stop exerting pressure on the NC on empowerment of the Panchayats by incorporating the Constitutional amendments. |
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