Says Congress supported candidates have won majority Panchayats in the Punjab
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Youth Congress president Mohit Mohindra today flayed the Bhagwant Mann government for unusual delay in administering the oath to newly elected Sarpanches and Panches in the recently held Panchayat elections in Punjab.
In a statement here, Mohindra demanded from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to immediately administer the oath to Panchayat members so that Panchayats start functioning. He said that process of administering oath was being delayed due to political considerations because Congress party supported candidates have won the majority Panchayats in Punjab. He said that fear of losing village elections was the reason that an amendment was made in Panchayati Raj Act, not allowing contest on party symbols.
He said that AAP government didn't want to complete the process due to four by-elections being held on November 15. AAP fears that its hollow claims of sweeping rural elections would be exposed before the by-election. He said that keeping Panchayats in limbo only serves the purpose of AAP.
Moreover, the AAP government was not in position to pay Rs.5 lakh special grant to 1172 Panchayats elected unanimously, promised by the Chief Minister, Mohindra added. He said that development in villages was halted in the absence of Panchayats.
Mohit Mohindra said that Bhagwant Mann government had made mockery of the Panchayat Raj system and rigged the polls to elect its members. He said that despite misusing government machinery, threatening the candidates and cancelling the nomination papers of opposition candidates, AAP has failed to make a mark in the Panchayat elections.