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| Soz compromises stand on 73rd amendment for a single MLC seat | | | early times report
Jammu, Dec 4: It sounds strange but true it is, the Jammu and Kashmir State Congress chief Saif-ud-DinSoz , gave up his demand for incorporation of 73rd amendment of the Indian constitution into the J&K Panchayat Raj Act and compromised his stand only to ensure victory of his lieutenant in the just concluded reserved MLC elections.
Till the other day, Soz a strong advocate of empowerment of panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir would take everybody including chief minister Omar Abdullah and also his detractors with the congress party head on by saying that it (73rd amendment ) was his principle stand. But alas! a man of principles comprised all his principles for petty MLC seat of his lieutenant. As of now, Soz chose to remain non-committal on the issue of giving powers to panches and sarpanches in the state through incorporation of 73rd constitutional amendment in J&K Panchayat Raj Act and did everything for a single MLC seat.
Earlier he had supported such powers for them envisaged under the 73rd Amendment to the Panchayati Raj Act. But now the man of principles seemed to compromise everything for one MLC seat which essentially suggests that the politics and the political system has degenerated to the extent that leaders once known for taking undeterred positions on certain issues give up for petty political favours which in the long run could lead them nowhere.
Soz had raised the pitch on the 73rd Amendment and had said the Congress would accept nothing short of the extension to J and K of the 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution in full which gives such powers to panches and sarpanches.
Sources said Soz took this U-turn because he was cautioned by the party high command not to "overstep" his limit. The Congress high command is backing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his stand that whatever changes are required would be taken by the state government itself.
Abdullah had ruled out extension to Jammu and Kashmir of the 73rd Amendment that gives powers to panches and sarpanches to elect the block development councils, district development councils and to have chairmen of their own choice.
As regards to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah's assertion on "grand-2014-alliance with congress, sources said that Soz is least bothered about that and in fact, he is not a votary of the idea at all but he had to listen to such repeated assertions by the CM again and again while campaigning for the coalition candidates in various parts of the state particularly in Kashmir valley. However, while defying the boycott call given by the senior separatist leader, panchayat members turned-out in huge numbers to vote for four Legislative Council seats, for the polls which were held after 32 years in Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday.
Around 93% turnout was recorded in the polls amid tight security in Jammu and Kashmir. Braving the chill, panchayat representatives thronged the polling booths to exercise their democratic rights.
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