KL Report
Srinagar
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the killing of panchayat representative Javaid Ahmad of Kalantra Kreeri of Baramulla District. Javaid Ahmad was killed by unidentified gunmen last night at his residence.
In a statement PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that innocent killings had no place in a civil zed society and her party strongly condemned such incidents. She said it was unfortunate that the government had put the lives of elected members of village bodies in jeopardy through its selfish and narrow minded policies. She said the society that elected them would have been the strongest security for the panches and sarpanches if the government had empowered them sufficiently to perform and bring benefits of panchayati raj to people. “Instead of doing that the government used panchayat elections as a slogan of achievement and panches as audience for party functions.
Calling upon the government to come out with investigation reports of the half a dozen village representatives killed so far, Mehbooba said government cannot escape accountability for their killing.
Mehbooba said the chief minister had stated that security would be provided to panches and sarpanches at least in the areas where the threat perception suggested it. Like all his announcements this one too has turned out to be false.
Mehbooba said the government having failed on all fronts has created an atmosphere of mistrust and crisis of credibility for all state institutions. The panchayats too are not able to escape that stigma and their dis-empowerment has only made the lives of panchayat members more vulnerable. She said in spite of receiving huge funds from the central government the state has failed to provide remuneration to the panches and sarpanches. Those funds are utilized only for the luxuries of the rulers and organizing undeserved celebrations and propaganda campaigns of non existing achievements, she said.
Senior party leaders Muzaffar Hussain Baig, party general secretary Mohammed Dilawar Mir, MLA Basharat Bukhari has condemned the killing of village representative. While conveying their condolences to the bereaved family the leaders also prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.
