Hyderabad: Demanding that the TDP Government in Andhra Pradesh withdraw an order which allegedly delegates the powers of local bodies to District Collectors, YSR Congress today said such a move is against the democratic spirit of decentralisation and empowerment of panchayats.
The main Opposition party dubbed the Government Order (No. 44) as "draconian" and asked sarpanches to oppose it.
"We demand that the GO be withdrawn immediately as it gives sweeping powers to District Collectors, including the power to veto the resolutions adopted by the Panchayat," party spokesperson Ambati Rambabu told reporters here.
He said the decree curtails the rights of elected representatives and gives enormous powers to officials, which is not in tune with the amendments made to strengthen local bodies.
"Instead of devolution of powers, the State is centralising the powers with the District Collector and at the village level, it has formed committees with TDP workers enrolled as social workers who are superseding the elected representatives in the local bodies."
"We call upon sarpanches to oppose this draconian GO and we will help in fighting this injustice and also explore legal options (to seek its withdrawal)," he said.
Training his guns on Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Rambabu said, "he is obsessed with foreign countries and is ignoring local talent. He often forgets that AP is a part of India and goes on comparing the State to other countries."
