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TDS on
interest income doubled NEW DELHI, Apr 25: In fresh tax sops, Government today raised the standard deduction by Rs 5,000 for salaried income upto Rs three lakh and doubled the limit for TDS on interest income, slashed customs duty for textiles and IT equipment imports, but hiked it on imported cars to protect domestic industry. The raising of standard deduction limit alone would cost the exchequer Rs 2,000 crore while other changes would be broadly revenue neutral. Moving the Finance Bill, 2001 in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha restored partially the limit of deduction of interest income under Section 80l to Rs 12,000 from the Rs 9,000 proposed in the budget. The additional deduction will cover interest rate on Government securities. Even as readymade manufacturers were crying for relief from the 16 per cent excise duty on branded garments, he widened the net to include unbranded garments excluding clothing accessories, raincoats and undergarments to remove "distortions and manipulations." Sinha proposed to exempt plastic footwear costing upto Rs 125 per pair from the nominal 4 per cent excise duty. Keeping in view the difficulties of exporters, the finance minister proposed to re-phase the withdrawal provision by taxing export profits to the extent of 30 per cent as against the proposed 40 per cent for the current year. The percentage of their taxable income will increase 50 per cent, 70 per cent and 100 per cent in the next three years instead of 60, 80 and 100 per cent. The changes in customs and excise duties proposed today would be effective from tomorrow excepting those on garments which would be effective from May one. In order to give relief to salary earners, Sinha proposed to raise the limit of standard deduction from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 for income upto Rs 1,50,000 and from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 for incomes between Rs 1,50,000 to Rs 3,00,000. Those having income from Rs three lakh to Rs five lakh will continue to enjoy the existing deduction of Rs 20,000. At present, for salaried taxpayers, standard deduction upto Rs 25,000 is available for incomes upto Rs one lakh. Modifying the proposals for tax deduction at source on interest payments, the minister raised the limit for TDS from Rs.2,500 to Rs. 5,000. He also proposed to put funds enjoying exemption under Section 10(23C) on par with the charitable institutions claiming exemption under Section 11 in respect of accumulation of their income. These funds like the charitable to accumulate 25 per cent of their income without any time limit. Accumulation of income beyond 25 per cent would be restricted to five years. He also proposed that due dates for filing of returns in respect of non-corporate taxpayers, whose accounts are to be statutorily audited, will also be October 31 in line with due dates for corporates. At present it is July 31. In deference to the Commerce Minister’s suggestion for allaying apprehensions on imports of new cars and two-wheelers in the wake of lifting of quantitative restrictions, Sinha proposed to increase the basic customs duty on Complete Built Units (CBU) of cars and two-wheelers from 35 to 60 per cent. The Countervailing Duty (CVD) of 16 per cent on 12 criticial items of textile machinery including shuttleless looms is proposed to be abolished in order to promote capital investment and modernisation of textile mills. As a fillip to IT industry, he proposed to add 32 specified items in the list of machines and equipment that are allowed to be imported at a low rate of five per cent basic customs duty. As a special dispensation, Sinha said he proposed to exempt units producing ball and roller bearings upto Rs 25 lakh per annum from excise duty to help tiny units. In a bid to encourage indigenous shipping companies, he also proposed to abolish the five per cent customs duty on ships introduced in the budget. The customs duty on metallurgical coke is proposed to be reduced to five per cent on actual user basis to steel plants to help improve their viability. The concessional rate of duty of 55 per cent for the import of crude palm oil by sick vanaspati units proposed in the budget will be abolished to avoid discrimination. (PTI) |
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60 passengers survive as bus burns Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Apr 25: About 60-odd passengers including driver and conductor, travelling in a Punjab Roadways bus, had a narrow escape when the bus caught fire late last night at Tarnah bridge in Chadwal area. All passengers as well as driver and conductor of the bus No. 8812 PB 12 managed to come out before the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. The bus was on way from Pathankote to Jammu. A Fire Brigade rushed to the spot but by then the bus had been completely burnt. Reason behind the fire was stated to be a mechanical failure. Local police have registered a case in the mishap. |
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Two Paplu gang militants gunned down in Banihal Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 25: Special Task Force (STF), Banihal today gunned down two militants of dreaded Paplu gang of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit during a fierce encounter at Phago Dulo village in east of Banihal. DIG Udhampur-Doda range Sheikh Owais Ahmed said a team of STF Banihal led by DySP (Operations) Pritam Singh Jamwal was camping in remote Phago Dulo village for the last two days on the basis of a tip off given by local people that militants had taken shelter in their village and harassing them. The police party identified the militants’ hideout late last night and raided it in the wee hours of this morning. Police personnel surrounded the hideout and asked the militants to surrender. However, the ultras hiding inside an abandoned house started heavy firing on the cops, who retaliated effectively. Exchange of firing, which started at about 0530 hours, continued for more than three hours. In the exchange of firing, the hideout of the militants got blasted killing two militants inside. Sources said there were reports that one or two militants had managed to jump out of the hideout before it caught fire during the operation and fled towards an adjoining forest area. No casualty was reported on STF side in the whole operation, which was completed successfully this afternoon. A hunt, however, continued to eliminate the absconding militants. Killed militants have been identified as Mohd Rafiq son of Abdul Rehman Naik and Safdar Ali son of Mohd Rafiq, both locals of Banihal. They were affiliated with dreaded Nazir Ahmed Wani alias Paplu gang of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. Recovery made from their possession included one AK-56 rifle, one AK-47 rifle, eight magazines, one wireless set, one radio set, four hand grenades, 158 AK rounds and some incriminating documents. However, the documents were burnt in the fire and couldn’t be read. Sources said Paplu gang had its wide network in Banihal tehsil and was also instrumental in the massacre of truckers at Sher Bibi on Jammu-Srinagar national highway last month. Killing of Rafiq and Safdar was a big blow to Paplu group, they said. Our Poonch correspondent adds: Troops of Poonch Brigade today effected another huge recovery of arms and ammunition from Sabjian belt in Poonch sector and smashed a hideout of the militants. Defence sources said Poonch Brigade personnel launched an operation in Sabjian this morning. During the operation, a hideout of the militants was destroyed. Recovery made from the spot included 850 Pika ammunition, 750 AK rounds, five RPG bombs, five boosters and a large number of explosive devices. However, the militants weren’t present in the hideout. Yesterday, also Poonch Brigade jawans had smashed a hideout of the militants in Kinari forests and recovered a consignment of arms and ammunition. |
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Murder case slapped on Gandharab, Balwan Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 25: Police today charged National Conference worker Gandharab Singh and transporter Balwan Singh with a murder case under Section 302 RPC in connection with yesterday’s shoot-out inside JDA office in which two transporters—Pardeep Gupta alias Deepa and Kamal Raj alias Pappu were killed. Yesterday, police had registered a murder case against Dev Raj, a Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Gandharab Singh after he was taken into custody from Batra hospital. Police sources said that a decision to slap murder case on Gandharab Singh and Balwan Singh was taken by the senior police officers late last night. Formally, the duo were booked under Section 302 RPC this morning. The murder case was registered at Trikuta Nagar police station. Investigations of the case have been entrusted to Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) East Sanjay Sharma. Police sources said the senior police officers including DIG Jammu-Kathua range Dr S P Vaid, SSP Jammu (acting) Mr Manish Kishore Sinha, SP (South) Bachan Singh Chowdhary and SDPO East Sanjay Sharma questioned the PSO at Trikuta Nagar police station last night. The PSO had straightway been charged with the murder. The PSO was also suspended from the services today. Further disciplinary action was likely to be taken against him after the report of police. Meanwhile, Kamal Raj alias Pappu was cremated this morning at Shastri Nagar cremation ground. Deepa had been cremated last evening. Operators of Banihal route observed strike today in protest against the killing of Deepa and Pappu. They were demanding stern action against the killers of transporters. |
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Dramatic capture of
militant in Kupwara Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Apr 25: Security forces and Special Operations Group today averted a potential tragedy by capturing a detained militant who had received a grenade while in detention, in Kupwara district. According to informed sources, a 12-member team of District Police Kupwara, led by an ASI, were taking nine detained militants back to Jammu when a militant took out his grenade and forced the driver to stop at Tootigand village on Kupwara-Sopore road today. The detenu, namely Fareed Ahmed Mir of Pakistan-held Kashmir, managed to stop the Police vehicle. Four of the detenus were foreigners. As all the armed escort personnel deboarded the vehicle and the PoK detenu made an attempt to escape, a patrol of Army and SOG Kupwara happened to pass by. They stopped and all the men in uniform threw a cordon around the vehicle. They succeeded in disarming the detenu, captured him without any resistance and subjected him to sustained interrogation. The detenu has been taken back to Kupwara and put on sustained interrogation. Police are investigating how the dangerous explosive device reached the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC). Some say that it had been passed on to the detenu by a militant outfit with the help of black moles in Police. But others insist that the same had reached his pocket when he was being produced in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, on April 22. The detenus had been brought in from Kote Bhalwal jail of Jammu and produced before the magistrate. |
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3 SPOs hurt in ambush Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Apr 25: Army tonight gunned down three hardcore militants of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Pir Panjal Regiment (HMPPR) in upper reaches of Topa Gali in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district. Defence sources said troops came across a group of militants during a search operation in Topa Gali tonight. A fierce exchange of gun-fight followed which lasted an hour. All three militants, who had ambushed the army patrol, were killed in the encounter. No loss of life was reported on army side in the operation. Bodies of all three militants have been recovered from the spot but not identified so far. Three AK-47 rifles with eight magazines and 272 rounds, 15 hand grenades and one radio set were recovered from the possession of slain militants. The trio were foreign mercenaries of HMPPR outfit. In another incident, jawans of 94 BSF recovered three 82 mm bomb from village Dhana in Rajouri area. Our Udhampur correspondent adds: A picket of Special Police Officers (SPOs) was attacked by the militants in Bohri Thatha area, about 45 kms from Doda town late last night. SPOs returned the firing of militants. Three SPOs were injured in the exchange of gun-fight. They have been identified as Mohd Sharief, Mohd Iqbal, and Gurinder Singh. The injured were rushed to district hospital of Doda in serious condition. Army and police personnel later reached the spot and launched a search for the militants, who had escaped after targeting the SPOs picket. A patrol party of CRPF 41 battalion was also ambushed by the militants at Seba Wati village in Pathinal area of Kishtwar tehsil last night. Lance Naik Daleep Singh was injured in the firing. CRPF jawans retaliated and repulsed the militants attack. |
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Vigilance case against X-En Irrigation, Foreman PHE Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 25: The State Vigilance Organisation has registered two more cases against Mr Muzaffar Hussain, Executive Engineer, Irrigation Division, Bhaderwah and against Abdul Qayoom Sofi, Foreman, PHE Department Sopore under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act 2006. The Vigilance Organisation had received a complaint alleging that the officers of Irrigation Division, Bhaderwah have misappropriated public funds in the execution of developmental works in Bhaderwah. Preliminary inquiries conducted by the Vigilance Organisation after registering case FIR No 10/2001 Police Station Vigilance Organisation Jammu disclosed that the Irrigation Division Bhaderwah took up construction work of Donsa Neeli Khul Phase 1 for an amount of Rs 4.81 lakhs departmentally as per the guidelines issued by the Government of India for execution of works falling under DPAP. The examination of records and the spot inspection disclosed that the construction work had not been executed as per norms. Instead of engaging labour for execution of work on muster sheets and procuring the construction material on competitive rates, payments have been made on hand receipts at 25 percent above sanctioned schedule of rates of 1997 without any justification. A total expenditure of Rs 1,91,760 has been booked on account of this work including cost of material like cement and repidite. Enquiries further revealed that the site though approachable by motorable road, carriage of cement has been paid by the head load for four kilometers and thus excess payment has been made. Spot inspection of the Khul has revealed that substandard work has been executed resulting in damage to the Khul at many places. An interesting thing which has come out in the course of enquiry is that the head of the Khul has not been constructed which has made the Khul non-functional and serves no purpose and as such the whole money spent on the work has been wasted and thus causing loss to the State exchequer. Enquiries revealed that the instant work had been taken up simply to benefit some selected persons who executed substandard work in pursuance of a criminal conspiracy with the concerned engineering staff. The allegations were thus primafacie found established against the delinquent official. Accordingly, case FIR No 10/2001 has been registered in the Vigilance Organisation for thorough investigation. Another case FIR No 12/2001 Police Station Vigilance Kashmir owes its origin to a report alleging that Mr Abdul Qayoom Sofi, Foreman in PHE Department Sopore has raised assets which are disproportionate to his known source of income. Discreet enquiries conducted by the Vigilance Organisation had revealed that the official by misuse his official position and by indulging in corrupt practices had raised huge assets. The allegations were primafacie established in the course of enquiry which subsequently led to the registration of a FIR case for thorough investigation. |
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Pak objections are
‘untenable’ From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Apr 25: India has rejected Pakistan’s definition of the existing International Border in Jammu as "working boundary". The Government is determined not to permit Pakistan to prevent Indians from constructing defensive structures along the International Border. The Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr UV Krishnam Raju, has made it plain that the term "working boundary" cannot be applied to any part of the India-Pakistan boundary, including the boundary between the two countries in Jammu region. Mr Raju informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that Indian security forces undertake the construction of defensive structures along the international boundary in Jammu sector from time to time. The nature and type of structure, he said in reply to a question by Mr Ramsheth Thakur, was based on the evaluation of India’s security requirements. In this context, Pakistan-sponsored infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Raju argued, had to be taken into account. He pronounced: "Our security forces will continue to construct such defensive structures as are needed. Pakistan’s objections to the construction of any kind of defensive structures are untenable and have been rejected by us". While asserting that the State of Jammu and Kashmir "is an integral part" of the Indian Union, Mr Raju told the House that while a part of the territory of the State was under the forcible and illegal occupation by Pakistan, under the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration, both countries were committed to resolving all outstanding issues peacefully through direct bilateral discussions. The Minister of State for External Affairs denied that Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen Parvez Musharraf, had invited the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to Pakistan for talks on the Kashmir issue. Mr Krishnam Raju confirmed that leaders of Pakistan’s military regime had been making frequent calls for the resumption of the India-Pakistan dialogue, at any level, which is focused on the Kashmir issue. Pakistan, Mr Raju said, had, at the same time, stepped up its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. He, in fact, charged Pakistan with continuing its pursuit of negative and hostile approach towards India. Mr Raju, who was responding to a question by Mr Subodh Ray, reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir State "is an integral part" of the Indian Union and pointed out that the Government of India had, on several occasions, expressed the desire to resume the composite dialogue that "seeks to build trust and confidence, establish a stable structure of cooperation and address outstanding issues". While emphasizing that an appropriate environment is an obvious requirement for a meaningful dialogue, Mr Raju said: "It is self-evident that Pakistan must end its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism in India in order to create such an environment". In his reply to a question by Mr Ram Prasad Singh and Mr Ashok N Mohol, Mr Vidyasagar Rao, Minister of State for Home Affairs, said that apart from raising objections to the construction of defensive structures by Indian security forces along some segments of the International Border in Jammu region, Pakistan had also resorted to intermittent firing on BSF troops to create hindrance in the construction work. Mr Rao said: "Our forces will continue to construct such defensive structures as are needed to combat Pakistan’s infiltration of terrorists from across the border". Mr Vidyasagar Rao stated in reply to a question by Mr Manibhai Ramjibhai Chaudhri and Mr Bhupendra Sinh Solanki that some portion of the security fencing on the Indo-Pakistan border had been damaged due to floods and other natural causes, the details of which "cannot be disclosed due to security reasons". Mr Rao informed Mr Shivaji Mane and Mr MVVS Murthi that even as people of Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed New Delhi’s peace initiative in the State, there has not been any positive response from the militant groups so far. Mr Rao asserted that Army Headquarters had been consulted at all states of the non-initiation of combat operations in J&K and that the Army "is in the full agreement" with the Government policy on peace process. |
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Lawyers’ strike in
7th day Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 25: The J&K Public Grievances Forum Jammu, through A N Bhardwaj appeared before the Division bench headed by Chief Justice and urged him that due to the prolonged strike of the Advocates, a great difficulty is being faced by the litigants to follow their cases in various courts. Mr Bhardwaj feared that due to the Supreme Court judgment, if the Advocates don’t appear, their cases will be dismissed, which is against the interests of the litigants. It was prayed that necessary orders be issued to the respective courts not to dismiss the cases, if the Advocates don’t appear to plead their cases. President Teli Baradari and block president Youth National Conference Jammu, Raman Kumar also appeared before the Chief Justice and submitted that pending cases may not be ex-parte or dismissed so that litigants may not suffer on account of Lawyers’ strike in the District Courts. On the request of these organisations, the Court has adjourned the cases till Monday. It was, however, made clear that the court cannot sympathies with the boycott of lawyers in view of the clear dictates of Supreme Court in the case titled Ramon Services Pvt Limited Versus Subash Kapoor and others. It was further observed that if any difficulty is faced by the litigants in finding any suitable arrangement within this period, the litigants may personally appear before the Court and the case will be considered on merits. The case in which Government was party, have been adjourned till April 26, 2001 with the observation that they are also likely to be dismissed in terms of the judgment of the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the indefinite strike launched by Jammu Bar Association in protest against the decision of opening Fast Track Courts, entered seventh day today., Bar president D S Saini claimed that the strike was complete as Advocates remained abstained from the courts. The lawyers, further organised a massive demonstration and termed the decision on opening of Fast Track Courts as against the interest of the lawyers and the litigants. It was decided to accelerate the ongoing strike. Meanwhile, the meeting of the General House of the Bar will be convened tomorrow to decide future course of action. |
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Two
counter-insurgents killed in Valley Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Apr 25: Having intensified their offensive against security forces and counter-insurgents, militants today eliminated two persons and left 22 others — including three ITBP personnel — wounded in two grenade blasts in Kashmir valley. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that at 1030 hours today, militants lobbed a hand grenade on a patrol of the paramilitary Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Goriwan Bazar, Bijbehara, in south Kashmir district of Anantnag. It exploded at a crowded place, causing injuries to three ITBP men and 17 civilians. Among the injured civilians, five are females. All the injured were rushed to hospital for treatment. During last night, militants attacked a camp of security forces at Verinag in south Kashmir. Troops retaliated and forced the militants to withdraw. During the same night, militants also fired upon the residence of the National Conference block president, Abdur Rasheed Khanday, at Begam in Kulgam area. His CRPF guards retaliated the fire and the militants withdrew without causing or suffering any damage. Reports available from north Kashmir said that militants tossed a hand grenade on Modern Medical Shop of Beopar Mandal secretary Saif-ud-din at 1015 hours today. It exploded, causing injuries to two civilians, namely Suhail Ahmed Beg S/o Farooq Ahmed Beg and Mohammad Sidique Khan S/o Ali Mohammad Khan, residents of Quil Maqam. The chemist’s shop suffered some damage. During last night, militants appeared at Hardushiva village in Sopore area and shot dead a former militant Abdul Khaliq Rather. Reports said that Rather had surrendered five years ago and was known as a helper of security forces. In central Kashmir district of Budgam, one Feroz Ahmed Dar S/o Ali Mohammad Dar of Chokpora (Chadoura) died in a mysterious shootout at Tangnar, Hayatpora. Officials claimed that Dar had been kidnapped by militants and shot dead. However, residents said that after a blast he forced his entry into a house and told the inmates that he had been fired upon. They knew him as a counter-insurgent who had often been seen carrying a hand grenade. |
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NEW DELHI, Apr 25: The Central Bureau of Investigation is presently investigating nine defence deals, including the controversial Bofors gun contract, in which allegations of corruption have been levelled, Defence Minister Jaswant Singh said today. In his reply to a written question by members of Parliament Vijay Goel and Ajay Singh Chautala in the Lok Sabha, Mr Jaswant Singh said these cases were registered and taken up for investigation by the CBI after 1989 and have either been closed, chargesheeted or investigation is being pursued. The CBI has found as ‘unsubstantiated’ the allegation of irregularities in the procurement of 36 Hand Held Direction Finder (HHDF) from Japanese company Taiyo Musen Co Ltd, and hence has closed the case. The remaining eight cases are either being probed or pending in courts. These cases, it is understood, are besides the 75 defence deals, struck after 1989 which had been referred to the CBI by former Defence Minister George Fernandes for investigation. The Central Vigilance Commission has gone through the cases and has referred them back to the Government with its views. Among the defence deals which are being probed by the CBI are, — Contract with South African firm Noschem for the supply of 155 mm smoke ammunition. The complaint in the matter is still under verification. — Import of ammunition from Hong Kong based Pitcare Company. A Preliminary Enquiry (PE) has been registered by the CBI and investigation is in progress. — Contract concluded with A B Bofors, Sweden, for procurement of 155 mm fh77b gun system, ammunition and associated items. The CBI has filed chargesheet and a supplementary chargesheet against delinquent persons. The CBI is continuing with the investigation. — Procurement of weapon locating radar. The CBI’s investigation report has been sent to the Central Vigilance Commission. — Irregular procurement of ‘crucibles’ in the Eastern naval command. The CBI is pursuing the case in the designated court at Vishakhapatnam. — Irregularities in the procurement of developed items in the Eastern Naval Command. No report has been submitted by the CBI so far. — Inquiry into the circumstances under which delivery period extension for procurement through ship chandelier were given by material organisation, Vishakhapatnam from December 1994 onwards. The CBI inquiry is in progress. — Case of local purchase at NSD, Port Blair in the Eastern Naval Command. The CBI inquiry is in progress. Mr Singh said so far the CBI has submitted report in only one case and in the rest it has not given any time frame for submission of report in the under-investiagtion cases. (UNI) |
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Geelani dismisses Govt gesture for talks as "drama" NEW DELHI, Apr 25: Less than 24 hours before a crucial Hurriyat Conference executive meeting to formulate its response to Centre’s offer for talks on Kashmir issue, fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today dismissed as "drama" Government’s gesture saying it would not lead to any solution to the Kashmir issue. "Where will you hold talks when killings are continuing. These talks are going to lead us nowhere when the Centre is continuing with its old policy in Kashmir," Geelani, who had maintained a studied silence over the issue, said in his inaugural speech at the silver jubilee function of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). He claimed that the ceasefire announced by the Centre was confined to media only as the situation on the ground was continuing to be grim. "People are still beaten, custodial killings continue and crack downs are still there... Which form of the ceasefire is this," Geelani said. Referring to the statement made by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that talks would be held within the framework of "humanity", Geelani said "I would like to ask him which form of humanity was the Government following." Later, the senior Jamaat functionary told PTI that "a final decision to the Centre’s offer would be taken only at the executive meeting of Hurriyat Conference tomorrow in Srinagar." (PTI) |
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Aziz discusses Kashmir with US official ISLAMABAD, Apr 25: Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Aziz, currently on a private visit to Pakistan, has met the political officer of the US embassy here and discussed the Kashmir issue. During his meeting with Geoffrey Hawkins yesterday, Aziz brought up the issue of providing travel documents to Hurriyat leaders by the Indian Government to visit Pakistan, the embassy officials said. The officials, who described the meeting as an exchange of views, said it was part of American efforts to encourage a dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. Aziz, who arrived here on April 18, had earlier held talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar and other top leaders. (PTI) |
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DUMDUM (WB), Apr 25: Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee today alleged that the Left Front Government in the State was tapping her telephone and police monitoring her movements. She further charged that the CPI(M) cadres, in collusion with Bankura police, had barricaded roads at many places to prevent her from reaching an election meeting yesterday. Banerjee, speaking at public rallies in different parts of North 24 Parganas district, said in a State where common people had no security, she would not take security cover provided by the Government. "I have asked the police to remove all security vehicles accompanying my convoy." The Trinamool supremo charged that in the 24 years of Left Front rule in West Bengal, there was no development in the fields of education, health and infrastructure. "But that did not deter the State from spending crores of rupees in advertising their so called achievements", she said. (PTI) |
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