SRINAGAR: In a virtual address at the two-day regional Panchayati Raj council meeting in Haryana’s Surajkund on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the successful establishment of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir at the ground level since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. He also took the opportunity to criticise the Congress party for its lack of substantial efforts in empowering Panchayati Raj institutions in India over the past decades.
During his speech, Modi pointed out that under the Congress’s regime, Panchayati Raj institutions did not receive the necessary support for their strengthening. He highlighted the significant contrast with Jammu and Kashmir, where elections were conducted from the village level to the district level for the first time in 2019 after Article 370 was abrogated. Over 33,000 local public representatives were elected during this process, marking a historic moment for democracy in the region.
“For the first time, democracy has been established on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir,” Prime Minister insisted.
Taking a swipe at the Congress party, PM Modi attributed the lack of development in certain areas, such as the unavailability of electricity in over 18,000 villages, to their lack of focus on rural development. He blamed the ideology of the Congress and other parties with similar views for neglecting the needs of rural areas.
He emphasised that the Panchayati Raj system stands as a robust pillar of Indian democracy and plays a vital role in the country’s development. To promote a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by rural areas, PM Modi requested party members to spend two nights a week in small towns and villages, connecting with the local population.
