Mysuru: Claiming that the Congress Government always stood for decentralisation of power in local bodies, former Legislative Council Chairman V.R. Sudarshan has alleged that the previous BJP Government in the State had made attempts to strangle them. He was speaking at the Gram Swaraj awareness workshop organised by the District Congress Committee (DCC) and Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Raj Sanghatane (RGPRS) at a private hotel here yesterday.

Pointing out that when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister in 1989, he had brought amendments to the Constitution aimed at strengthening the Panchayat Raj system, Sudarshan regretted that however, the Bill was defeated in the Rajya Sabha by one vote. But Rajiv Gandhi’s concept of the Panchayat Raj system got approved when P.V. Narasimha Rao became the Prime Minister, a couple of years later, he said.

Maintaining that the Congress Government led by Siddharamaiah had introduced many reforms in the Panchayat Raj system, Sudarshan reiterated that the previous B.S. Yeddyurappa-led BJP Government made attempts to strip the local bodies of their power.

Observing that the 2018 State Assembly elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were a big challenge to the Congress, Sudarshan said the party was gearing up to meet poll challenges.

Former MP Narayanaswamy and RGPRS Zonal Convenor Ramaswamy delivered lectures.

Earlier, AICC Secretary in-charge of Mysuru Region Congress Vishnunath inaugurated the seminar by lighting a lamp.

AICC Secretary Sooraj Hegde, KPCC General Secretary B.S. Malavalli Shivanna, RGPRS District Convenor Kaiser Ahmed and others were present.