Jammu: Union Minister Jitendra Singh claimed Monday that the Congress, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have never wanted to hold panchayat and block development council (BDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir even though they always ‘hoodwinked’ the people in the name of fanciful slogans like ‘autonomy’ and ‘self-rule’.
Addressing a rally here, Jitendra Singh lauded the announcement for conducting BDC elections next month that will give an opportunity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to express their democratic aspirations, in much the same manner as in the rest of the country.
The minister alleged Kashmir-centric political parties had always put a stumbling block against genuine grassroot democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The hollow claims of autonomy made by the National Conference stood exposed on the day it decided to boycott the Panchayat elections and also tried to dissuade people from participating in it,” Jitendra Singh told the gathering.
Similarly, Jitendra Singh said, the self-righteous agenda of ‘self-rule’ put across by the PDP also stood exposed, when it boycotted the Panchayat elections. He said 40,000 sarpanchs and panchs were elected when Panchayat polls were held last year.
Jitendra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to strengthen grassroot democracy in Jammu and Kashmir and it was during the Governor’s rule that the Panchayat election was held and not a single incident of violence took place. Now, close on the heels, the BDC elections are going to be held, as a follow, he said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Election Authority announced Sunday the poll schedule for the election of chairpersons of BDC in the 310 blocks of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be conducted, October 24.
PTI
