KL Report
Srinagar
Panchayat members are firm on ground to serve people in Jammu and Kashmir despite security threats, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Monday.
“Despite threats, panchayat members are firm on ground to serve people and fulfil their objective of mitigating their difficulties,” he said.
The Chief Minister was addressing district-level government functionaries from Jammu division representing 14 departments from where functions and powers have been transferred to panchayat institutions.
He said panchayat members in some areas have security concerns, especially after the recent two attacks in which one got killed and the other is fighting her injuries in SKIMS.
“The government is with you at all levels and our commitment for an empowered Panchayat Raj system is firm and final,” Omar said expressing solidarity with panches and sarpanches.
20 panches and sarpanches of Sopore area in Baramulla district yesterday quit citing “threats to their lives” in the wake of fresh attacks on Panchayat members.
The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) – an apex body of 33,000 Panchayat members – has blamed the state government for killings of its members by militants and asked the Chief Minister to quit if he failed to provide them security. Meanwhile the resignation process continued on Monday, and 24 more reportedly submitted their resignations in the north Kashmir area.
