Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Oct 8: “The ruling BJP government has curbed the powers of the gram panchayats,” claimed district president of Congress Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Raj Committee Subhash Shetty Kolnadu.

He was addressing a press meet at Congress Bhavan here on Saturday, October 8.

"Instead of gram panchayat presidents, the powers have been allotted to PDOs to provide licenses for various development works. The government has reduced the grants of 15th finance commission for the gram panchayats. Now the action plan for various development works under gram panchayat limits will be decided at the state level. The power of appointment of the staff has been handed over to the zilla panchayat," he said.

He also said that the ruling BJP government has not released grants for the Gandhi Gram Puraskar. “The government has not released grants for housing scheme from the past five years. In history, for the first time, the government has failed to hold gram panchayat, taluk, and Zilla panchayat elections,” he said.

He also said that in the coming days Congress leaders will protest against the BJP government in front of taluk and zilla panchayat offices.

He also alleged that state minister Kota Srinivas Poojary is also silent on the issue.

"Totally in democracy, decentralization of power has been curtailed," he added.

Congress leader M S Masood also slammed the BJP government for delaying the zilla, taluk and gram panchayat elections.