Kolkata: The Congress on Sunday criticised
the West Bengal government for bureaucratisation of the
panchayati raj system in the state and said it would mobilise
people at the district and block level to protest against it.
"Panchayat administration should not be run by the
bureaucrats in the state,`` WBPCC president Pradip
Bhattacharya said and urged the government to allot more money
to strengthen the system.
"We will also organise people at the district and
block level against the bureaucratisation,`` Bhattacharya,
whose party is a partner in the Mamata Banerjee-led
government, said.
He reminded the government that the Panchayati Raj
system was introduced to decentralise power and allow people
to run their administration instead of concentrating power in
the hands of bureaucrats.
Bhattacharya also said that the government should
ensure minimum support price (MSP) for paddy and jute to
protect farmers from misery and distress sale of their
produce.
He said, "Paddy and jute farmers in the state are
being deprived of the MSP announced by the Centre, leaving
them with no alternative but to go in for distress sale of
their produce."
He said the Congress would organise a mass-deputation
at block level on December 9 and 10 demanding MSP in paddy and
jute.
He also alleged that fertilisers were not being
distributed properly among farmers in all places.
PTI
