As the hunger strike by ‘panches’ and ‘sarpanches’ demanding various measures to strengthen the Panchayati Raj institutions in Jammu & Kashmir entered second day, the BJP here on Wednesday called for meeting their “genuine demands” expeditiously.
“Panches and sarpanches can prove a game changer if empowered properly and bestowed proper respect and protocol. However, no move
has been made in this respect so far despite a lapse of almost a year after the panchayat elections,” BJP spokesperson Brig (Retd) Anil Gupta said in a statement here.
Dozens of panches and sarpanches on Tuesday began a week-long hunger strike here in support of their various demands, including the clearance ofRs 1,000 crore liabilities under the Centre’s flagship MGNERGA scheme.
The hunger strike under the banner of the All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) also seeks to press for security cover to all panches and sarpanches belonging to vulnerable areas and enhancement of the monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500 and Rs Rs 1000 presently given to sarpanches and panches respectively.