All J&K Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) has claimed that amendment made by the Union Government in J&K Panchayati Raj (PR) Act 1989 is an attempt to dis-empower the newly established PR system in the Union Territory. Addressing a press conference here Shafiq Mir, AJKPC Chairman along with elected BDC chairpersons expressed resentment against the amendment and claimed that the amendment is against the promises made by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi regarding strengthening PR Institutions in J&K. A handout stated that after amendment District Development Councils (DDCs) will be elected through direct vote by people in 14 constituencies that have been created in each district under name ‘Territorial Constituencies’. These constituencies also include the jurisdiction of already elected Block Development Councils (BDCs). Explaining concern, Shafiq Mir, who is also an elected BDC Chairman said, a territorial constituency within the jurisdiction of elected Block Development Council will be a sort of clash with the already elected Block Development Chairman. “Not only this, by this amendment, the elected BDC Chairpersons will not have right to vote or to contest in District Chairman election,” he said claiming it injustice and against the spirit of PR Act. Mir also said that it was they who contested Panchayat elections when all the political parties had boycotted these. He also claimed that the amendment will opened doors for political activists to enter PT institution which may demoralize Panchayat leaders of J&K. Demanding rollback of the amendment, Mir said the tier elections should be conducted as per JKPRI Act 1989. Other BDC Chairpersons who spoke on the occasion were Arun Kumar Sharma, Surinder Kumar Bhagat, Sarshad Natnoo, Brijeshwer Singh and Aftab Ahmed Beig.
