Bengaluru: Even as opposition is growing to the Government’s plans for bringing amendments to Gram Panchayat Act with an intention of curtailing the powers of Gram Panchayat (GP) Heads and Members, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has rejected the proposal.

Speaking to presspersons after meeting the Chief Minister recently, Jnanendra said that the Chief Minister has rejected the move for making amendments to Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993. Maintaining that the Panchayat Raj system has been the foundation of democracy and largely helps in sprouting leadership in rural areas, Araga Jnanendra said that the Government was committed for strengthening the system and for devolution of power.

Meanwhile, Opposition Legislators have welcomed the Government’s decision to drop the plan.

MLCs C.N. Manjegowda, Dinesh Gooligowda and Dr. D. Thimmaiah said that they would welcome the Government’s decision on the matter.

Asserting that any plans for curtailing the powers of GP Members will severely disturb the Panchayat system, they recalled that they had raised concerns with the Chief Minister and had appealed him to drop the proposal in the better interests of Panchayat bodies.