Rahul tells Omar to do more for empowerment of panchayats in Jammu

Omar while referring to the incident said its aim seemed to be belittling the NC-Congress coalition government.

“I want to clear few things as there are attempts being made at creating misunderstandings. The sarpanch was from an opposition party,Panthers Party. He is a close relative of the party chairman. How did he come into your (Rahul’s)

function because everyone knew him and everyone knows what kind of relation Panthers party has with this government.

“Whether the objective of his presence there was to disrupt your function or belittle this government,I cannot be sure of that. I feel it was to belittle this government,” the Chief Minister said at a function to inaugurate a cold storage unit in Lassipora,55 km from Srinagar.

Omar said he was “tired” of hearing the oft-repeated claim that the panchayats in the state have not been empowered.

“As much as we could have given the powers to Halqa (panchayat) level,we have done that. Powers of 14 departments have been transferred to the panchs and sarpanchs.

The problem is that we gauge the powers by money only. Even my ministers complain that they cannot make announcements about projects because of lack of financial powers. The panchs and sarpanchs have same complaints,” he said.

Rahul,in his address to the gathering,responded by saying “in politics we need to listen to opposition as well”.

“He (protesting sarpanch) is from Panthers Party and and I don’t say what he is saying is all wrong. It is true that he spoke against us … In politics one should listen to those also who speak against us. It is good because there is some truth there,” he said.

Noting that without empowering the panchayati raj institutions J and K’s rapid progress was not possible,he said the desired progress on empowerment of panchayats has not taken place so far in the state.

Rahul told reporters earlier in the day in Budgam that resolution of differences between NC and Congress over empowerment of panchayats “will take some time”.

“Unless we empower the panchs and sarpanchs,Jammu and Kashmir cannot progress rapidly. I want to tell Omar Sahib that reservation issue is there reservation for SC,ST and women (in Panchayati raj institutions). Somehow we should together get these elections (block level and district level) conducted,” Rahul said at the public event in Lassipora.

“The way we should progress,the way we should give powers to panch and sarpanch,they have not got it. We are coalition partners and we want that the higher level elections of panchayati institutions should be held as early as possible,” he added.

National Conference and Congress have taken differing stands on implementation of 73rd and 74th amendment of the Constitution in J and K.

The NC has maintained that it was willing to incorporate some provisions of these amendments in the state Panchayati Raj Act while Congress has been pressing that all provisions of these amendments should be implemented in the state.

In his interaction with reporters at Budgam,Rahul said both the parties were determined to resolve the issue.

“We had a chat some days back in Delhi. We are going to try and solve this problem. There are some issues. There is a strong intention on the part of both the sides to resolve this and we will make sure that the third tier of the government gets the power that it deserves,” he said.

“One thing that has to be understood is that these things take time,these are processes that take time,” he told reporters when asked if any headway has been made in ironing out differences between the two allies on this issue.

Omar said that among the powers given to panchayats included checking of attendance in primary schools,monitoring the functioning of anganwari centres,mid day meal scheme,ration depots,etc.

“These powers cannot be weighed on money scale. It is up to the panchayat members whether they want to use these powers or not,” he added.

Omar said for further devolution of powers,elections to block level and district level committees is inevitable.

“We were ready to hold block level elections. We had fixed the date and even issued the notice but then it was stopped,” he said.

The Chief Minister said he took the decision to hold panchayat elections in the state and did it on his own.

“It was not done under pressure from anyone. I wanted to realize the dreams of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah,Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi of strengthening these institutions. If there would have been no politics in it,we would have completed the district elections by now,” he said.