Bhattal condemns Panchayat election notification

Chandigarh, Mar 8 (UNI) Condemning the notification of polls to Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state, Punjab Congress president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today said the state government was ''befooling people.'' ''The alliance government has found a novel method to befool people and run away from announcing any concessions in the Budget on the pretext of Model Code of Conduct which was on due to these elections,'' Ms Bhattal said adding that the financial bankruptcy of the government was known to all and now the code of conduct would serve as shield for their non-performance on the economic front.

She criticised the government for notifying the elections at a time when Budget session was in progress.

''We fail to understand the hurry for notifying the election when the Budget session is going on and the harvest season is also gaining momentum,'' she said adding that if the government was sincere towards the genuine demands of the people, it could have presented the budget well before the notification of the Panchayat election.

Ms Bhattal said apprehending defeat in direct elections the alliance killed the spirit of Panchayati Raj Act by notifying indirect election of Sarpanches.

''Now they are turning their back on their commitments for budgetary concessions to the people,'' she alleged.

The PPCC president demanded that with the imposition of Model Code of Conduct there should be embargo on all political decision of the government and use of government vehicles and official helicopter should also be stopped henceforth.

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