Opposition meets Governor on Panchayati Raj Bill

Bangalore, July 18 (UNI) As many as 24 Opposition members in the Karnataka Legisaltive Council met Karnataka Governor Mr T N Chaturvedi and appealed to him not to give consent to the controversial Panchayati Raj Act of 1983 amendment bill passed by both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature.

Senior Janata Dal (United) Leader and MLC Basavaraj Bommai told newsmen as many as 24 members of the House, including Congress, JD(U) and Independent Groups asked the Governor not to give consent to the bill as it was unconstitutional.

Mr Bommai claimed the amended bill was aimed to curtail the powers vested with the Panchayats in the guise of not functioning properly.

The Governor was appraised about the consequences of the bill, which was not likely to stand the scrutiny of the court as state government had no powers to amend the provisions of the Constitution, he claimed.

The state government's move was against the concept of decentralisation of power and strengthening of democratic institutions.

At present all members of panchayats in the state including Zilla and Taluk Panchayats were on an agitating path against the government's move to curtail their Constitutional powers, Mr Bommai said.

UNI