'Vested interests' blamed for sarpanch killings

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday said 'vested interests' were responsible for the recent killings of sarpanches and panches even as it said it is duty-bound to empower panchayats in the state and has taken steps in this regard.

Speaking during the discussion on 'Killing of Sarpanch and Panch' in the Legislative Council, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar said some people cannot accept that a successful election was held by the NC-led coalition government and are trying to derail the process of empowering people at the grassroots level.

Sagar said those panchayat members who were killed were the supporters of National Conference and their killing would benefit a certain party. 'All the three who were killed were supporters of NC and their killing would benefit only those who represent such constituencies,' he claimed.

This led to a heated exchange with Murtaza Khan of PDP. The minster also informed the House that one Nisar Ahmad Ganai of Palhallan Pattan in Baramulla district has been arrested in connection with the killing of Sarpanch Ghulam Mohammad Yatoo.

The minister refuted the allegations of not empowering the panchayati institutions in the state. The government is doing its best to take governance to the grassroots level, he told the House. 'We are for absolute empowerment of panchayati institutions. Steps have been taken for their empowerment. We want to give them more powers,' Sagar said.