Kupwara, June 15 -- In a strongly worded statement, Irfan Pandithpori, Chairman of the District Development Council (DDC) Kupwara, has condemned the increasing sidelining of elected grassroots institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing the current dispensation of weakening the foundations of the Panchayati Raj system.

Pandithpori voiced deep concern over the ongoing practice of preparing developmental plans solely through Members of the Legislative Assembly , without any consultation with the DDC council or the Gram Panchayats. "This is not governance, this is political maneuvering. MLAs are framing plans unilaterally based on political calculations, not public needs. This completely sidelines the democratic process at the grassroots," ...