Railways’ Mata Vaishno Devi package popular
100 per cent populist rail budget introduced in Parliament
No increase in passenger fares, but freight rates increased

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Feb 26: The Railway Budget for 2001-2002 is literally a boon for the commuters, with no proposals to increase passenger fares of any class or category of trains in the country.

Introducing the Budget proposals in Parliament on Monday, the Minister for Railways, Ms Mamata Banerjee, left none in doubt about the fact that political considerations had an important role to play at the time of the preparation of the 2001-02 Budget document.

That Ms Mamata Banerjee has also been influenced by electoral politics can be explained by her announcement about the introduction of some new trains in her home State, West Bengal, where crucial Assembly elections are slated to take place during the year.

No wonder, she proceeded on expected lines-no increase in passenger fares. And no increase in freight rates for essential commodities like sugar, edible oil, salt, fruits, pulses, kerosene oil, vegetables and LPG.

In her Budget speech, she emphasised that household budget would not be affected by her proposals for the year 2001-02.

She announced a 2 per cent increase in freight rates for coal (not meant for household consumption) and iron and steel. She also announced one per cent increase in furnace oil.

Ms Mamata Banerjee’s Budget also provides for what was termed as "normal" increase of 3 per cent in rates of all commodities except consumer articles like sugar, edible oil, kerosene oil, salt, fruits, vegetables and LPG.

Ms Mamata Banerjee, while announcing that urea has been exempted from any increase during the next financial year, pointed out that proposals for adjustment in tariff for freight would generate Rs 500 crores per annum.

Stating that the Railway Ministry’s Plan outlay for 2001-02 has been kept at Rs 11,090 crores, Ms Mamata Banerjee also pointed out that capital support from the general exchequer would continued to be Rs 3,540 crores as in the current financial year. She said that the Ministry proposed to go in for market borrowings to the extent of Rs 4,000 crores and the balance of Rs 3,550 crores would be met through a combination of conventional sources and non-traditional sources of revenue.

Referring to "no growth" of budgetary support next financial year, she said that the Railways would also have to pay Rs 1,352 crores to the general exchequer by way of dividend. She also referred to her decision to give major thrust to completion of new line projects, pending for long time and asserted that safety was being further strengthened with the allocation of track renewals being enhanced from Rs 1,633 crores in the revised estimates to Rs 2,050 crores, marking an increase of 26 per cent.

Ms Mamata Banerjee, while announcing plans to introduce as many as 24 new trains during the next financial year, said that her Ministry had also proposed to introduce ‘Matribhumi’ Express trains to be run during peak rush season with only second class and second class sleeper coaches in seven sectors of the country, namely, Delhi-Jammu, Howrah-Delhi, Howrah-Dehradun, Delhi-Barauni via Lucknow, Hyderabad-Bangalore, Mumbain-Gorakhpur and Mumbai-Varanasi.

Ms Mamata Banerjee’s Budget also contains proposals to promote what she has called "rail tourism" in the country. She said that the newly incorporated Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation had taken up a few important tasks, expected to facilitate tourism in a big way. She informed Parliament that the ‘Mata Vaishno Devi’ package launched in November last year has become "very popular" with pilgrim tourists.

*BJP dubs protesters as Bhagat Singh, Rajguru
Two ABVP workers intrude into Assembly gallery,
shout slogans

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 26: An unprecedented situation was created in the Legislative Assembly during the Question Hour today when two Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists found their way into Speaker’s gallery and shouted slogans against illegal admissions of PRIME students disrupting proceedings of the House for a brief period.

Both the activists—later identified as Vikas Sharma and Sunil Kumar—were dragged out of the gallery by Watch and Ward staff of the Assembly and arrested on the orders of Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil. However, again it was Speaker, who at the end of today’s proceedings of the House, directed for the release of the ABVP activists.

Significantly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators defended the action of ABVP activists with one of the legislator, Ashok Khajuria going to the extent of equating the duo with Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Rajguru saying ‘I salute both of them’.

It happened at about 1010 hours—about 40 minutes after the beginning of today’s business in the House when a question of reservations asked by BSP leader Sheikh Abdul Rehman was raised by his party colleague Sagar Chand in former’s absence that the two youths sitting on front row and right side of Speaker’s gallery stood up from their seats and started shouting slogans.

"Assembly Ko Bandh Karo’, ‘PRIME College Ki Illegal Admissions Ko Cancel Karo’, the duo shouted attracting the attention of entire House as well as the Chair towards them as this was probably for the first time that proceedings of the House were disrupted, albeit briefly, by outsiders from Speaker’s gallery.

Sensing trouble, the Watch and Ward Staff of Assembly immediately swung into action and dragged both the ABVP workers out of the gallery. The duo were slapped, kicked with boots and beaten-up mercilessly by the staff while being removed from the gallery. They were taken into a room, where also they were thrashed by the staff.

Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil immediately ordered that both the youths should be arrested and handed over to police for creating indiscipline and an unwarranted situation in the gallery.

It was later established by the Assembly staff that the passes to both the youths had been issued by Chowdhary Chuni Lal, a BJP MLA from Suchetgarh. A notice was also issued to the legislator seeking his explanation.

The issue again figured during Zero Hour when BJP City East MLA Ashok Khajuria openly defended the action of ABVP activists and said he salutes both of them. "The protesters were not ordinary workers but Bhagat Singh and Rajguru of the present time. I salute them", Khajuria said, adding ‘the National Conference Government had created such a situation by admitting PRIME students in Government medical colleges that ABVP was forced to resort to agitational approach’.

When a ruling party member wanted to know as to how the ABVP workers entered the Speaker’s gallery, Chowdhary Piara Singh (BJP) remarked : ‘just like the General Dayar was killed’.

When proceedings of today’s business were about to conclude, acting Chief Minister Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah, who had earlier criticised the behaviour of youths and blamed some Opposition member for it, appealed to the Speaker to order release of the boys.

"Their (the boys) behaviour was highly condemnable. Action was must against them to arrest future trend", he said but appealed to the Chair to order release of the boys after 1600 hours.

The Speaker said he was really pained at the dis-respect shown to the House by the boys. People have suffered a lot and made several sacrifices for the institution. Subversion of decent behaviour in gallery was unacceptable in a civilised society, he said.

Vakil said he was shocked that one of the member of this House had recommended the boys for passes. He said the members should be cautious in issuing the passes.

"We have powers to put them behind the bars, prosecute and get them convicted but we have no vengeance with the boys or the organisation with which they were affiliated or the population they belonged", Vakil asserted.

Saying that he was taking a lenient view on the issue following Chief Minister’s appeal, the Speaker ordered that both the boys should be released with a stern warning.

After, talking to EXCELSIOR, both the ABVP workers—Vikas Sharma, City president and Sunil Kumar, Kashmir unit organising secretary said they had no regrets for what they did and were rather proud of their act. "We have succeeded in our task, which was to draw the attention of entire House towards a most heinous crime committed by Farooq Government by inducting students of an unrecognised college in the Government medical colleges", they said.

MLA alleges Govt links with ISI, HM
Oppn protests Minister’s role in encroachment of land

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 26: Role of a Cabinet Minister of Farooq Abdullah Government in encouraging Poonch and Rajouri migrants to encroach upon Government land at Ragoora in Sidhra resulted into uproarious scenes in the Legislative Assembly today with Opposition members alleging a deliberate attempt by the Government to create trouble in Jammu.

A BJP member alleged that some of the Minister had links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Hizbul Mujahideen and they were taking ‘undue benefit’ of Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah’s absence from the State to create ‘communal tension’ in Jammu.

The allegations were, however, outrightly denied as ‘baseless’ by acting Chief Minister Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah, who rather blamed the Opposition for creating trouble.

Speaking during Zero Hour, BJP legislator Ashok Khajuria wanted to know that why such a situation was allowed to be created wherein even the Government employees like doctors and Inspectors were asked to encroach upon the vital Government land on the name of migration.

Three BJP legislators - Ashok Khajuria, Bali Bhagat and Chow-dhary Piara Singh waived a copy of EXCELSIOR in the House and said that a Minister was involved in the whole trouble. They said that a deliberate attempt was being made to change demographic character of Jammu by settling people of Poonch and Rajouri in and around the Jammu City.

Khajuria alleged that some Ministers having links with ISI and Hizbul Mujahideen were responsible for the trouble and added that they were doing all this in the absence of Chief Minister, who had gone to perform Haj.

There was no name worth of Government function in the State, he said. He asserted that migrants of Poonch and Rajouri should be settled only in their respective districts and not in Jammu.

Acting Chief Minister Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah condemned the statement of BJP member and described it as ‘vague’. Opposition has a right to subject the Government to ruthless criticism but that doesn’t mean that they should indulge in baseless criticism, an agitated Shah said.

The BJP members were again on their feet and disrupted the statement of Shah. One of them alleged that Chief Secretary and Director General of Police were not being allowed to work independently by the Ministers.

The issue of Rajouri and Poonch migrants was also raised by National Conference MLA from Mendhar Nissar Khan during the Zero Hour who said the Government should take care of migrants. He regretted that no facilities were given to the migrants at Belicharana.

Khan wanted to know as to who sent the migrants to Ragoora, where four of them were burnt alive.

Another NC MLA M S Akhoon said the Opposition should either take the name of Minister, who was involved in militancy, or should refrain from levelling baseless charges. "Tell us from where the Muslims of J&K have to get certificate", he said.

BJP MLA Chowdhary Chuni Lal retorted saying the BJP has only blamed NC and not Muslims, who are brothers of BJP.

Oppn walks-out against rejection of SC, ST bill
Govt rejects bill seeking to induct word secular
in J&K Constitution

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 26: Six private members’ Constitution amendment bills fell in the Legislative Assembly today as treasury benches refused to admit any of them even as one of the Bill pertaining to quorum in the Legislative Assembly generating a lot of heat and debate and even Speaker directing the officiating Law Minister Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah to get the issue studied through Law Department.

All six bills were moved by Panthers Party member Harshdev Singh, whose four bills were defeated in the House at the introductory stage last week. Majority of the Opposition members walked-out of the House after a Bill pertaining to educational interests of SCs and STs was also rejected by the House.

After a lengthy and heated debate in which three senior Ministers including acting Chief Minister Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather and Education Minister Mohd Shaffi Uri projected the Government stand and Speaker raised a number of queries and described the issue as ticklish, the bill was put to vote and was rejected by the House. The Opposition members including those of BJP, Janata Dal and BSP besides Panthers Party voted in favour of the bill while all NC members supported it.

Nevertheless, the Speaker directed Mohi-ud-Din Shah to get the issue studied by Law Ministry. The acting Chief Minister agreed to do so.

Harshdev Singh, while moving the bill said it was an established principle of law that whenever there was conflict between the Constitution any any other law, it is always the Constitution which prevails. However, he said, there existed a clause in Section 65 of Constitution of J&K, which gives precedence to the Rules of Procedure over the Constitution.

This constitutes a violation of the principle. As such the word in Section 65, ‘save as otherwise provided by the Rules of Procedure of the House’ shall be deleted, Singh said.

Further, he said, the quorum to constitute a sitting of the House was fixed at 20 at the time when the Legislative Assembly comprised of 76 members but with increase in the number of seats to 87, the House quorum was fixed at 23. He said Rule of Procedure and Conduct of Business in legislative Assembly by virtue of Rule 13-A of the Rules of Procedure of the House needs to be rectified.

Another Constitution amendment bill of Harshdev Singh seeking protection of educational and cultural interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes besides their protection against all forms of exploitation was also opposed by Government and rejected by the House.

Singh said Section 23 of the Constitution of J&K, which defines the directive principles of State policy, only makes a reference to socially and educationally backward classes but doesn’t make any mention of SCs and STs.

Opposition members including Piara Singh, Bali Bhagat and Prem Lal (BJP), Harshdev Singh (Panthers), Som Nath and Sagar Chand (BSP) and Jagdish Dubey (JD) walked out of the House after the Bill failed shouting slogans that National Conference was anti-SCs. Som Nath had earlier asked NC chief whip Mubarak Gul to explain party’s stand on the issue.

Another Constitutional amendment bill of Harshdev Singh, which failed in the House, pertained to preservation of breeds and for prohibition of cow, calves and other draught cattle. Singh said Constitution of India by virtue of Directive Principles provides in Article 48 for prohibition of cow slaughter. The corresponding provisions in J&K Constitution is laid down in Section 15 of Directive Principles of State policy.

He said the two provisions are synonymous with just one exception i.e the Constitution of J&K only provides for organisation and development of Animal Husbandry but doesn’t cast a duty upon the State to take steps for preservation of breeds for prohibition of cow, calves and other cattle.

In his reply to the Bill, the acting Chief Minister said Harshdev Singh should widen his vision. He said a Board had already been set up for the purpose and there was no need to bring the bill. The bill was put to vote and rejected by voice vote.

Yet another amendment bill of Harshdev Singh wanted including of word ‘secular’ , ‘integrity’ and ‘socialist’ in the preamble of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. Singh said the preamble of Constitution of J&K, 1957, was an adaptation of the Preamble to the Constitution of India. However, he said, the words ‘socialist’, ‘secular’ and ‘integrity’ which were hallmark of the Indian Constitution have been omitted from the preamble of J&K Constitution.

"Ours is a secular State and our Constitution must categorically express this fact through its preamble as is the case with Indian Constitution", the MLA from Ramnagar said, adding ‘the failure to incorporate the said words would send wrong signals outside the world’.

"True to your character, you have deleted the word secular from the Constitution", Singh remarked and commented that NC’s opposition to the bill shows that they weren’t secular.

Replying to the amendment, Mohi-ud-Din Shah said the very definite of the state’s Constitution was secular and not theocratic. He said the Constitution at many places reflected that it was secular.

When the Bill was put to vote and defeated, Harshdev Singh alleged it has been probed at the floor of the House that NC Government wasn’t secular. Member of BJP, JD and BSP supported the bill.

Another bill of Harshdev Singh, which was defeated in the House, pertained to inclusion of a chapter on fundamental duties, as enshrined in the Constitution of India, in the Constitution of J&K.

"The fundamental duties as applicable in the case of other citizens must apply to the permanent residents of J&K State as well. These fundamental duties include respect for national flag, national anthem, to uphold the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country and preserve its rich heritage of composite culture", Harshdev said.

The bill was rejected by the House with ruling party members going with the Government, who had opposed the bill.

The sixth bill of Panthers Party MLA, rejected by the House, pertained to an amendment in J&K Forest Conservation Act.

GoM on security submits report to PM

NEW DELHI, Feb 26: A Group of Ministers (GoM), which reviewed the entire national security system in the wake of the Kargil conflict, today submitted its report to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and is understood to have recommended creation of a post of Chief of Defence Staff for greater coordination of the security apparatus.

The 137-page report is believed to have suggested that the Chief of Defence Staff should report directly to the Prime Minister.

It is also believed to have recommended that the post of National Security Adviser should be a permanent one, but left the final decision to the Prime Minister.

The GoM, headed by Home Minister L K Advani and comprising Defence Minister George Fernandes, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, met Vajpayee in Parliament House and submitted the report.

The GoM, which was set up on April 17 last and had held 27 meetings to finalise its recommendations, is also understood to have suggested an enhanced role of External Affairs Ministry in the working of India’s external intelligence arm - RAW.

Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is currently under the Cabinet Secretariat and the report is believed to have suggested that the External Affairs Ministry should have an increased say in its functioning.

The report will now go to the Union Cabinet for its acceptance.

In its report, the GoM reviewed the national security system in its entirety and considered the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee headed by defence analyst K Subrahmanyam which had reviewed the events leading to the Pakistani aggression in Kargil.

The report contains six chapters, including those dealing with an overview of the challenges to the management of national security, the intelligence apparatus, internal security, border management and management of defence, official sources said.

The epilogue of the report provides a framework for effective implementation of the GoM’s recommendations contained in the report, the sources said.

The GoM, which reviewed the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee headed by defence analyst K Subrahmanyam, had set up four task forces on intelligence apparatus, internal security, border management and defence management.

These were headed respectively by Jammu and Kashmir Governor G C Saxena, former Home Secretary N N Vohra, another former Home Secretary Madhav Godbole and Arun Singh, former Union Minister who now advises the External Affairs Ministry on security matters.

In their long-drawn exercise, the task forces took into account not only the observations and recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee, but also interacted with concerned ministries besides the three Service Chiefs, the Security Adviser to the Defence Minister and top officials of Defence Research and Development Organisation and other related bodies. (PTI)

5 militants killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Feb 26: At least four militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in a fierce clash with security forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police at Trehgam in south Kashmir while a militant was killed in a blast and three others were nabbed in the Valley during the past 24 hours.

Panic gripped in the exchange road area here when militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a security force picket near bus stand at 1400 hours today.

The grenade missed the intended target and exploded without causing any damage.

Inspector General of Police Dr Ashok Bhan said a joint patrol of security force and police was fired upon by militants at village Trehgam near Dooru in south Kashmir district of Anantnag last night with automatic weapons.

He said the fire was immediately returned and in the exchange four Hizb militants Abdul Rashid, Rafiq Ahmad Dar alias Imtiaz, Tariq Ahamd Shah and Mohammed Yousuf Wagay alias Adil were killed.

Dr Bhan said one of the slain militant Abdul Rashid alias Tractor was allegedly involved in causing explosion at Dooru in which Minister of State Ghulam Hassan Bhat was killed last year.

According to a police spokesman a loud explosion was heard in Anantnag late last night. A body of Nazir Ahmad Najar was recovered near the site of blast this morning.

Nazir, affiliated with the Harkat-ul-Ansar, was reportedly killed when the explosive device he was carrying exploded.

Militants shot at and wounded a Special Police Officer Mohammad Altaf at Mhama in Magam of the central Kashmir last evening.

A ruling National Conference activist Ghulam Mohammad Mir was shot at and wounded by militants at Rajpora while militants shot and injured another SPO Mohabat Hussain at Kupwara last night .

The spokesman said police arrested two militants at Awantipora while another was nabbed at Kupwara last evening. Two grenades, two magazines, 40 rounds, one wireless set, five rocket boosters and one rocket were recovered from the possession of the arrested militants. (UNI)

4 others still at large
Cong leader’s son held

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 26: Gandhi Nagar police tonight arrested son of a prominent Congress (I) leader and lodged an FIR against him and his four criminal associates for looting goods of a poor tea stall owner in Shastri Nagar last mid-night.

A senior police officer told EXCELSIOR that Gambhir Singh son of Congress (I) leader Gulchain Singh Charak, ex-MLC was arrested from a hideout tonight and booked under Sections 457, 380 and 427. A Tata Sumo No. JK02K 6739 used in committing the offence has also been seized.

Of his four associates, who were still at large, two have been identified as Zakir Hussain and Aashiq Hussain, both sons of Gasha Gujjar. Identity of two others, who were wearing headgears, couldn’t be ascertained immediately.

The official said Gambhir Singh, whose father had purchased a shopping complex in Shastri Nagar, wanted to dislodge a poor tea stall owner Krishan Lal, who had been running one of the shop in the complex. Krishan Lal had purchased the shop on ‘pagri’ from one Om Parkash of Pacca Danga.

He said Gambhir Singh and his associates intruded into the shop last mid-night, most probably with the connivance of some local police officials, and removed all the goods of tea stall owner. They broke back wall of the shop.

All this was done not with the intentions of stealing the goods but to dislodge the poor tea stall owner from rightful possession of the shop, the sources said, adding Krishan Lal came to know of the incident only today morning when he reached there to open his shop.

He later lodged a complaint with police, which was reported to have swung into action. Raids continued throughout the day today and Gambhir Singh was arrested this evening. Massive raids were on to nab Zakir Hussain and Aashiq Hussain besides two other unidentified criminals.

Shah asks Som Nath to switch over
SC members clash in House, targets Bhagat

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 26: The Scheduled Caste members of Opposition parties today jointly clashed with Ram Chand Bhagat, BSP’s MLA from RS Pura, who has unofficially allied with the ruling party and generally speaks in favour of treasury benches.

During Zero Hour, Bhagat started criticising SC MLAs of other parties for opposing the ruling party saying Scheduled Castes were very happy under the regime of National Conference Government. He said a delegation of SC MLAs should be sent outside the state to see miserable condition of SCs, who were well off in J&K.

This statement of Bhagat was strongly resented by other SC members including two legislators of BJP, who started shouting towards Bhagat. The SC MLAs, who were on their feet, included Som Nath and Sagar Chand of BSP, Prithvi Chand, Bali Bhagat and Prem Lal, all BJP.

While NC members hailed the statement of Bhagat by thumping desks, Som Nath described his party member as a ‘tout of NC’ and said he can’t go to his own constituency in RS Pura for the fear of people’s wrath.

The SC members demanded that Bhagat should be shifted towards treasury benches as he had already allied with the NC. Bhagat is unsound, another SC member remarked while assailing the RS Pura MLA for bringing a bad name to the them.

Meanwhile, during a brief debate on Harshdev Singh’s Constitution amendment bill for protection of educational facilities to SCs and STs, Som Nath pointed out that there was no SC member in the Cabinet.

Acting Chief Minister Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah said Ram Pal represents SCs in the Government and asked Som Nath to switch over to NC. "We will make you (Som Nath) the Minister", an NC member remarked.

All SC MLAs again targeted Ram Chand Bhagat saying he was dreaming of becoming a Minister and that’s why he was supporting NC and appealed to the Government to fulfill his dream.

In a lighter vein, Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil said the Government will consider making Som Nath a Minister if he comes to NC side.

15 injured in Doda blast

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Feb 26: Fifteen persons were injured when militants threw a petrol bomb in a crowded area near Pappi Land hotel in Doda town this afternoon.

According to reports, the petrol bomb was thrown by an unidentified militant at 1230 hours today. The device exploded causing injuries to 15 passers-by.

The injured have been identified as Som Raj, Narinder Kumar, Gul Mohd, Kuldeep Singh, Harnam Singh, Gull Hassan, Javed Iqbal, Showkat Ali, Tanveer Ahmed, Naseema Begum, Habib Gul, Farida Begum, Babar and Subash Chander.

The injured were hospitalised where majority of them were discharged after first-aid.

Main accused in Kathua attack arrested

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Feb 26: Prime accused in chopping off of an arm of a youth Kamaljit Singh alias Tissu in the town here last week was arrested by police today from a hideout. He has been identified as Nirmal Singh alias Kala, a resident of Lachipur.

SSP Kathua Manohar Singh said one of the accused Raja has already been arrested. Two more accused were at the large and one of them included Kala’s brother, whose house was torched by the mob.

60 kg RDX seized from Manjakote

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Feb 26: Army today recovered a large quantity of explosives and ammunition including 60 kg RDX from village Deri Liot in Bhimber Gali area under the jurisdiction of Manjakote police station.

Besides 60 kg RDX, the consignment included three sealed boxes of AK ammunition containing 2160 rounds, nine RPG rockets and rounds of other weapons, Defence sources said, adding the recovery was effected by troops of Jharan Wali Gali(JWG) Brigade.

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