Jammu, Nov.5 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday condemned the fresh threats issued to the village headmen in the Kashmir Valley as the civil secretariat and other offices reopened in the state’s winter capital, Jammu, amid tight security. In a recent interview, the banned militant outfit United Jihad Council (UJC) supremo Syed Salahuddin issued fresh threats to village headmen and asked the provincial government to clear their stand on the security issues.
Commenting over the threat to the village heads, Abdullah said: “The previous attacks, nothing has changed what I have said. In term of what Syed Salahuddin has said regarding the Panchayati Raj institutions, unfortunately his own tune is changing. If I remember correctly after the first few phases of elections, he was the one who said that there would be no threats made to panches (Village Council Heads) and sarpanches (Village Head) and this election can go ahead without any sort of threat. I don’t know why he has suddenly jumped on this bandwagon of issuing threats. As far as we are concerned we are geared up to deal with any eventuality. From time to time we are doing necessary threat assessments and wherever any steps need to be taken they will be taken.”
The militants shot dead a deputy village headman in Baramulla district on Sunday late in the evening. According to media reports, militants fired two gunshots at Muhammad Shafi, deputy headman of Kreeri village, after evening prayers.
Armed security personnel immediately rushed to the spot and registered a case of murder. Over 700 village council members have tendered their resignation, under threat from militants. The state government has already decided not to incorporate the 73rd amendment of Indian Constitution Panchayati Raj (village council) Act. Abdullah also said that state has a unique distinction of having their own constitution in the state.
“As far as the 73rd amendment is concerned there is no flip flop. The coalition government has been very clear that the 73rd amendment will not be brought into J&K. What we have been very clear on also is that we have the unique distinction of having our own constitution in the state. Why should we incorporate central constitutional changes when we can make our own constitutional changes here and amend our own Panchayati Raj Act,” said Abdullah stated.
Opposition parties called for an amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act to incorporate the provisions of the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution, including elected chairman for District Development Boards as part of the three-tier panchayat system.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/omar-abdullah-condemns-fresh-threats-issued-to-village-headmen/
