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Rahul vows panchayat empowerment in J&K Jammu, November 6 As Rahul Gandhi was addressing the Panchayat Conference here this afternoon on Day 1 of his two-day visit to the state, a large number of gathered panchayat members were expecting him to set a deadline for extending the 73rd Amendment to J&K, but he only gave an assurance. Annoyed over the repeated assurances, Udhampur’s Bhugtrayan Panchayat sarpanch Prikshit Singh interrupted Rahul’s speech and shouted that the state government was not treating panchayat members fairly. “No one is listening to the sarpanches and panches. We are here to air our grievances and to expose the real face of this government, but are not allowed to speak,” he shouted. In a bid to pacify the young sarpanch, Rahul said, “If I did not want to listen to your voices, would I have come here? Panchayats cannot be empowered in a day, but I assure you we will work to make this happen.” Despite Rahul’s assurances, the panchayat member continued to shout slogans. Some other members also echoed a similar sentiment. “Except promises, nothing has been done during in the last three years. This government has betrayed elected panchayat members,” Prikshit said while standing on his chair. “We are with Rahul Gandhi, but the state government is not honest in empowering panchayats,” he said. Chants of ‘We want justice... We want justice’ repeatedly echoed as panchayat members shouted slogans against the state government. The situation took an ugly turn when Pradesh Youth Congress president Shahnawaz Choudhary and Kharayan Panchayat Sarpanch (Congress) Pawan Raina resorted to counter sloganeering.After Rahul Gandhi left the stage, Ambika Soni again tried to pacify the panchayat members and announced that the proposal for a Rs 10 lakh Panchayat Development Fund (PDF) would be approved very soon. Earlier, in a veiled warning to coalition partner National Conference (NC) on adopting delaying tactics in strengthening panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies, Rahul said he would intensify his struggle to strengthen democratic institutions at the grassroot level in J&K. The AICC vice-president said the situation in the state would change only once the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments were incorporated into the J&K Panchayat Raj Act. The 73rd Amendment deals with empowering panchayati raj institutions while the 74th deals with strengthening urban local bodies. The NC is opposing extension of these amendments to the state. “Decentralisation of decision-making powers at the grassroot level is a must to ensure balanced development. In the 21st century, decisions will be taken in the villages,” Rahul said. “If we have to bring a change in Jammu and Kashmir, we will first of all have to empower the representatives of panchayats and local bodies”. Observing panchayat members were not given their rights Rahul said, “Our first and foremost priority is the empowerment of panches and sarpanches in Jammu and Kashmir. We will implement the 73rd Amendment in J&K. He said the Congress will take the battle to extend the 73rd and 74th amendments to J&K to its logical conclusion. “I will keep coming and keep exerting pressure on the state government to extending the 73rd and 74th amendments to J&K,” said the AICC vice-president and sought the support of panchayat members in the battle. ‘73rd, 74th amendment a must’ * Rahul Gandhi said the situation in the state would change only once the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments were incorporated into the J&K Panchayat Raj Act * The 73rd Amendment deals with empowering panchayati raj institutions while the 74th deals with strengthening urban local bodies * The NC is opposing extension of these amendments to the state
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