Jammu: Rahul Gandhi today faced a heckler as he addressed a gathering of village leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.
At a rally of Panches and Sarpanches - or village heads - the Congress vice president was speaking about the empowerment of local leaders, when he was interrupted.
"We are with you. But we demand that the state government gives us rights. We have been hearing about getting powers for the last three years, since we were elected, but we haven't got anything, all this is fraud. No one listens to us," a Sarpanch from the crowd shouted at Mr Gandhi.
The Congress leader paused in the middle of his speech to respond to the heckler. He said, "I have come here to listen to you. Why would I have come here if I did not want to listen to you? You have to fight. You have to put pressure on the state government. We are with you."
Omar Abdullah's National Conference rules the state along with the Congress.
The man who interrupted Mr Gandhi was Parikshit Singh, Sarpanch of Ramnagar. He later explained his action, "Many of our Sarpanches were killed by militants. No Sarpanch was given security but an MLA has been given the security of 50 guards. They did not let our voice reach Rahul Gandhi."
The Panches and Sarpanches were elected three years ago in historic Panchayat elections held after a gap of more than three decades in the state lacerated by militancy.
But since that milestone for grassroots democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, these leaders have been struggling for their rights, demanding more powers for local governance, while facing constant threats from militants.
Rahul Gandhi said to these leaders today, "Your future is most important to me. I will keep coming here and continue to fight for your rights till you get your dues."
At a rally of Panches and Sarpanches - or village heads - the Congress vice president was speaking about the empowerment of local leaders, when he was interrupted.
"We are with you. But we demand that the state government gives us rights. We have been hearing about getting powers for the last three years, since we were elected, but we haven't got anything, all this is fraud. No one listens to us," a Sarpanch from the crowd shouted at Mr Gandhi.
The Congress leader paused in the middle of his speech to respond to the heckler. He said, "I have come here to listen to you. Why would I have come here if I did not want to listen to you? You have to fight. You have to put pressure on the state government. We are with you."
Omar Abdullah's National Conference rules the state along with the Congress.
The man who interrupted Mr Gandhi was Parikshit Singh, Sarpanch of Ramnagar. He later explained his action, "Many of our Sarpanches were killed by militants. No Sarpanch was given security but an MLA has been given the security of 50 guards. They did not let our voice reach Rahul Gandhi."
The Panches and Sarpanches were elected three years ago in historic Panchayat elections held after a gap of more than three decades in the state lacerated by militancy.
But since that milestone for grassroots democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, these leaders have been struggling for their rights, demanding more powers for local governance, while facing constant threats from militants.
Rahul Gandhi said to these leaders today, "Your future is most important to me. I will keep coming here and continue to fight for your rights till you get your dues."
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