Jammu: In a big embarrassment to government both at the Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir, recently elected members of the maiden District Development Councils including their chairpersons and vice chairpersons, cutting across party lines especially BJP, held demonstration over the alleged downgrading of their status, forcing the UT administration to cancel the two day training programme organized for them at the Convention Centre here on Tuesday.
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The programme was to be inaugurated by the UT’s Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. In view of the protest by DDC members which was spearheaded by DDCs chairpersons including those owing allegiance to BJP in the lawns of the Convention Centre, Sinha did not arrive at the venue.
Though no formal announcement was made by the administration about the cancellation of the function, the security personnel withdrew after some hours as administration failed to persuade agitating DDC members take their seats inside the auditorium.
“The administration has insulted us by lowering our stature even below the MLA,” said Jammu DDC Chairperson and senior BJP Leader Bharat Bhushan. “Where are the powers Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised DDC members before the elections,’’ he asked.
The election to maiden DDCs in the Union Territory was held in December last leading to the establishment of three tier Panchayati Raj system in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time.