PM Modi Slams Congress For Failing To Recognise Importance of Panchayati Raj System

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stated that Jammu and Kashmir stand as the most significant achievement of establishing democracy at the grassroots level, subsequent to the revocation of Article 370.

He also took a swipe at the Congress party while highlighting that for more than four decades after India gained independence, no attempts were taken to empower Panchayati Raj institutions in the nation.

PM Modi criticised the Congress party for failing to recognize the importance of implementing the Panchayati Raj system in villages for four decades after India gained independence. 

During his speech at a regional Panchayati Raj council event in Haryana, he said," For four decades after independence, the Congress did not understand how necessary it was to implement the Panchayati Raj system in the villages." 

He further stated, "The District Panchayat system that was formed after this, was left to its own fate during the Congress rule", pointing out that even after the introduction of the District Panchayat system, the Congress-led government neglected its development and progress.

PM Modi expressed his disappointment with the Congress regime's lack of 'concrete efforts 'to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system'. Instead, he remarked that their focus remained on statistics and paperwork, without taking any measure to empower the local governance institutions.

In sharp contrast, the Prime Minister cited the example of Jammu and Kashmir, where after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the region witnessed Gram Panchayat and district-level elections for the first time, which led to the election of over 33,000 local public representatives. 

This step marked the establishment of democracy at the grassroots level in the region. "For the first time democracy got established there on ground level,” PM Modi remarked.

PM Modi further reiterated the BJP government's commitment to strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions and fostering local self-governance since coming to power in 2014. He highlighted that they have allocated a substantial budget of over Rs 2 lakh crore for Panchayati Raj bodies, which is three times greater compared to the allocation in the previous government.

Urging party workers to make the most of the Panchayati Raj system, the Prime Minister encouraged them to ensure that its benefits reach every individual,  especially those who are often left behind. In order to achieve this, he suggested, "I would request all of you that you should go and stay at some small place in your area for two nights a week and sit with the people there".

He stated that this approach would help in effectively implementing policies and initiatives that cater to the welfare of every citizen, particularly those who are often overlooked or underserved.

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