Jammu Tawi, July 25: J&K Pradesh Congress Committee has welcomed the decision of the Governor to return the controversial Panchayat Raj Amendment Bill 2016.In a statement senior leaders of JKPCC have hailed the decision of the Governor to return the controversial Bill withholding his assent on the controversial bill which was opposed by Congress and other opposition parties being anti-democratic and which would weaken the Panchayat Raj in the State. The Congress party vehemently opposed the bill inside and outside the House and held protest demonstration and submitted memorandum, urging the Governor to withhold his assent, as it would weaken the authority of basic principle of democracy and basic spirit of 73 amendment of Constitution which was incorporated in State Panchayat Raj Act on 14th March 2014.The party has also sought constitution of independent Election Commission as per the provision of State Panchayat Raj Act based on the pattern of 73 amendment , as stands incorporated. Welcoming the action of Governor PCC leaders hoped that Govt. would realize its folly to push through the controversial bill against the pulse of people and the basic spirit of democracy and would not further initiate any move to weaken the Panchayat Raj system in the State. The signatories to the statement included President JKPCC Shri G.A. Mir, Senior Vice-President Sh. Sham Lal Sharma, Vice-Presidents Mula Ram, Raman Bhalla, G.M. Saroori, G.N. Monga, Haji Rashid, Kanta Bhan, Ravinder Sharma (Chief Spokesperson), Rajnish Sharma(Co-Tr) Balwan Singh, Vikram malhotra, Manmohan Singh, Manjit Singh, Faqir Nath, Ch. Shah Mohd., Namarata Sharma, General secretaries.
