BJP threatens to launch mass movement against JK govt

Jammu, Feb 8 (PTI) BJP today threatened to launch a massmovement in Jammu and Kashmir if the state government failedto implement 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Panchayati Raj --aiming at devolution of powers of planning to councils atdistrict, block and village level -- before the forthcomingPanchayat polls.

"The government has turned a deaf ear to BJP''s repeateddemand to implement the Amendments in the state to ensureempowerment at grass root level...If the amendments are notimplemented before the Panchayat elections, we will launch amass movement in the state," BJP state president ShamsherSingh Manhas said.

He was reacting to some media reports that the ruling NC-Congress coalition is contemplating to go ahead with thePanchayat election in the state without or only cosmeticimplementation of the Amendments.