JK Leaders have hailed Azad statement.

J-K BDC elections will be unfortunate without reservation: Azad

NEW DELHI/JAMMU: - Recalling the overwhelming response to Panchayat elections held after over three decades in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad on Monday regretted over the announcement of block level elections without any reservation for SC, ST and women.

He asserted that the block-level elections to Panchayat Raj System will be futile unless depressed class of society - Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes - and also Women folk are not represented at the block and district levels in Panchayat Raj system in Jammu and Kashmir," Azad said.

While appreciating panchayat elections held in the state in a "peaceful" atmosphere and huge participation of the people, Azad said, "These (BDC) elections, however, would be meaningless and unfortunate unless there is reservation in Panchayat Raj system." “This matter has already been discussed with PCC chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz and Dy CM Tara Chand, said the former Chief Minister.

Azad said that the whole exercise of elections to block councils will be futile unless Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women are not represented at the Block and district levels in Panchayat raj system in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir government has announced Block level elections in the state and issued notification on October 10. A total of 29,402 panches and 4,089 sarpanches in the state would elect 143 BDC members including 77 for Kashmir Valley and 66 for Jammu region.

The statement of the Union Minister has been widely hailed by rank and file of Congress in the State. MLA'S including G M Saroori, Abdul Majid Wani, Mohd Sharief Niaz, Mastar Ashok Bhagat, Krishan Chander Bhagat and Vikar Rasool. MLC' S including Mohd Amin Butt, Haji Ali Mohd Bhat, Jughal Kishore Sharma, Naresh Kumar Guota, Subhash Gupta, Jehangir Mir. Former Ministers including Dr Romesh Sharma, Haji Rashid, Suman Bhagat, Yogesh Sawhney, Gharu Ram. General Secretaries Vinod Sharma, Vinod Mishra, Hans Raj Bhagat, Darshan Raina. Ex MLAs Faqir Mohd Khan, Ashok Sharma, Bharat Gandhi, Ashok Sharma, Th Balwan Singh. PCC Secys Thakur Jughal Bhandari, Anil Chopra, Maheshwar Singh, Ashok Sharma, Mohd Iqbal Keen, Channi Singh, S S Slathia, Choudhary Hamid and Brij Mohan Sharma. Youth Congress including President IYC J&K Shahnawaz Choudhary, National Delegate National Student Union of India (NSUI) J&K Fairoz Khan, Vice President NSUI Abhishek Koushal, President Indian Youth Congress (IYC) Lok Sabha Srinagar Sheikh Aamir Rasool, Vive President IYC Jammu Poonch Lok Sabha Singla, State General Secretary NSUI Wassim Sajjad, General Secretary IYC Lok Sabha Kathua-Doda Aamir Suhail, President NSUI MAM College Amjad Mushtaq Bhat, President IYC Batmalu Zahoor Ahmed, President IYC Habbakadal Khudis Sambair, President IYC Khanyar Sheikh Shafaat, President IYC Inderwal Mohammad Latief Mughal, District President NSUI Doda Vishal Kotwal, District President NSUI Kishtwar Saqib Lone, President GDC Kishtwar Siddique Aftab, President NSUI ITI Kishtwar Shabir Ahmed, President NSUI Polytechnic Kishtwar Rafeez Ahmed, Vive President NSUI MAM College Wazaid Shah, Vive President NSUI Kishtwar Randeep Thakur, Vice President Inderwal IYC Shaikh Basharat, Senior Leader IYC Kishtwar Suman Pratab Singh have welcomed the unanimity in the party cadres on the vital issue of empowering Panchayats. They have hailed the statement of Ghulam Nabi Azad in this regard.