All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference slams Omar Abdullah government

The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), an organisation of elected panches and sarpanches, today alleged the Omar Abdullah government had failed in getting release of the special grant for panchayats from the Union government. "We strongly condemn Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Panchayati Raj minister for their failure in getting release of the special grant for panchayats from the Centre," AJKPC president Anil Sharma told reporters here.

"Due to indifferent approach of the state government, especially of Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, the much-hyped grant of Rs 10 lakh for each panchayat has been put on back burner by the Union government," he said.

In the absence of autonomous status for panchayats in the state, these institutions had been rendered homeless, Sharma said.

On providing security to panchayat members, he said the state government should clarify its stand on the matter. "Panchayat members are living in fear psychosis due to terror threat. Hence, the state government should clarify its stand on providing security to them," the AJKPC chief said.