 AJMER, May 7: In a forceful bid to safeguard grassroots democracy, Jammu Kashmir United Movement (JKUM) President and former MLA, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, has demanded an immediate end to political meddling in the allocation and utilization of Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) funds.
Jabbar asserted that funds for Panchayats, Block Development Councils (BDCs), and District Development Councils (DDCs) must be managed strictly through Gram Sabhas, as mandated by the Panchayati Raj Act. He emphasized that the "decisive say" belongs to the villagers, not to MLAs or political heavyweights.
Jabbar warned that any attempt by political leaders to divert local resources for narrow political gains would be met with strong protests.
The JKUM leader urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to personally ensure strict compliance with the law, preventing "top-down" interference that undermines local self-governance.
Highlighting the need for accountability, Jabbar called for the immediate conduct of Panchayat elections to restore democratic functioning at the village level.
"The money belongs to the people at the grassroots. No MLA or political leader has the right to interfere or misuse these funds for political purposes. Decisions must be taken by the Gram Sabha," Jabbar stated.
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