Taking on the NC-Congress coalition government in the state for its undemocratic move to introduce 73rd & 74th constitution amendments in a modified form, BJP State President & MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma today said that the BJP will not accept anything short of complete application of these two historic amendments in the Indian Constitution aimed at empowering the grass roots level democratic institutions like Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporations so that they take care of the immediate local needs of the people. He said it is disturbing that the Congress which considers itself a national organization is not asserting its authority on the National Conference to make it to adopt both these amendments and introduce them in letter and spirit.
Sharma said that the BJP believes only in the Indian Constitution and not in regime that treats Jammu and Kashmir and its people differently and subverts the democratic rights and interests of the people. He said it is only because of Article 370 that the Kashmir’s ruling elite and its handful of supporters in Jammu and parties like the Congress have been ignoring the aspirations of the people and converting the elected panchayats into toothless instruments so that the vested interests exercise absolute financial and legislative powers. He said Panchayats play very important role at the gross-roots levels and it is the duty of the government to empower them to the extent possible so that they discharge the duties they are supposed to.
Sharma said that the parties like the NC and the Congress have no regard whatsoever for democratic and secular ethos and that they simply believe in anti-people and anti-democratic policies so they do not share power with grass roots level institutions. He shared the view of the organization of the Panchs and Sarpanchs that 73rd & 74th amendments must be introduced in their entirety and assured them that the BJP will extend full support to the cause they have taken up. He also advised the NC-Congress coalition that they must abandon their communal ideologies and focus on issues of governance so that the people’s grievances are redressed, adding that the state has been gripped by a sense of frustration, disappointment and despondency. He expressed hope that the ruling coalition would appreciate the genuine concern of the BJP and demand as put forth by Panchs and Sarpanchs and adopt 73rd and 74th amendments forthwith in their original form.