Killings will not deter panches from serving people: AJKPC

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 24

Condemning the killing of a Block Development Council chairman in Budgam district, the All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today said such “mindless killings” would not deter elected panchayat members from serving the people at the grassroots.

In a press statement issued here, Anil Sharma, UT president of the AJKPC, who visited family members of the deceased BDC chairman, Bhupinder Singh, also questioned the government for its “casual approach” while dealing with the security of the elected panchayat members.

“We want to tell terrorist groups, headed by Syed Salahuddin, Azhar Masood and their ilk, that they will not succeed in their nefarious designs of derailing grassroots democratic institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. So far, 21 panchayat members have sacrificed their lives for strengthening the grassroots-level democracy but they will continue to march on this path till the last breath of their life,” Sharma said.

The AJKPC leader, while taking a dig at the government, alleged that the administration had compromised on the security of panchayat members as their concerns with regard to adequate security cover had remained unheard.

“It is quite unfortunate that film actress Kangana Ranaut was granted Y-plus category Central cover within a day despite the fact that she had done little for the strengthening of democracy. On the other hand, elected panchayat members who have been sacrificing their lives for the nation are being deprived of security,” Sharma said.