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ST
reduced on tyres, tubes, motor parts, jewellery,
ornaments Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 12: Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather today presented a Rs 618 crore deficit budget for next financial year in the State Legislature but mostly left the deficit uncovered. The budget, which had no major schemes for the next financial year, proposed several concessions for local liquor manufacturers by imposing an import fee of Rs 10 per LPL on the liquor brought from outside the State. The budget proposed to reduce the rate of Sales Tax on jewellery and ornaments by three per cent and tyres, tubes and motor spare parts by four per cent. It, however, proposed to bring electric and electronic goods, Plaster of Paris and Earthmovers under the ambit of entry tax. Rather also announced payment of Dearness Allowance (DA) installment to State Government employees at the rate of three percent. The installment as well as its arrears will be paid in cash. The Finance Minister impounded payment of third installment of Fifth Pay Commission for the employees in GPF but applied no restriction on its encashment. Described by one of the scribe (in post budget briefing of the Finance Minister) as ‘liquor manufacturers friendly budget’, it proposed imposition of import fee of Rs 10 per LPL on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) on both civil as well as defence forces consumption. This will encourage local liquor industry as liquor brought from outside the State will become costlier, Rather pointed out and said this will fetch additional revenue of about Rs 5 crore per annum. Finance Minister’s budget proposed 100 per cent excise duty concession on rum for defence forces if they lift their 100 per cent requirements from the local industry in place of 25 per cent stipulated during the current year. He also proposed to remove the liquor industry from negative list for the purpose of improving their exports for a period of two year. For the same reasons, Rather said, he also proposed to abolish export fee on IMFL for the next two years. "In view of protectionist policy followed by most of the States in respect of their local distilleries and breweries, our units have been finding it increasingly difficult to compete in those markets", the budget speech of the Minister that lasted about 75 minutes in the State Assembly said. Rather’s speech, which started at 1034 hours, was marked by repeated interruptions from Opposition benches, who flayed many budget proposals while ruling party members thumped their desks and eulogised the Minister. The budget proposed to extend the application of Entry Tax to electric and electronic goods, Plaster of Paris and Earthmovers. Recalling the imposition of Entry Tax in last budget, the Finance Minister said ‘as against the import of taxable goods worth Rs 22.32 crore during 1999-2000, the quantum has phenomenally decreased to Rs 13.31 crore during first 10 months of current financial year’. This levy has had a salutary effect on receipts of revenue through genuine trade channels and has been widely welcomed by trading community, who had to bear the brunt of clandestine imports, he pointed out. The budget proposed a 10 per cent increase in the rates of additional toll tax and special toll tax with the exception of fruits and vegetables. This measure, Rather said, is likely to generate an additional revenue of about Rs 15 crore in the next financial year. "Increase in the revenue from special toll tax, which was initially levied to compensate local bodies for loss of octroi shall take care of their increasing requirement of maintenance of civic services", he said and hoped that consumers would willingly accept this additional burden of three paise per kilogram. However, the Finance Minister proposed to reduce the rate of Sales Tax on jewellery and ornaments from existing four per cent to one per cent and tyres, tubers and motor spare parts from 12 per cent to 8 per cent. "Though there will be some loss of revenue due to reduction of rates, the turnover of sales of these commodities will substantially increase and revenue interests of the State will be fully protected", the budget said. Rather increased the limit of self-assessment scheme of dealers for Sales Tax from present Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. He hoped that trading fraternity will take full advantage of this offer to help themselves as also the Department of Sales Tax in its efforts of updating assessment record. While giving some concessions to liquor manufacturers and traders, the Finance Minister, however, declared a war against economic offenders. He said a Bill to revise quantum of punishment and penalty prescribed for various offence in tax statues was being placed on the table of the House in the current session. "With trade practices becoming more complex, the premium for economic offences has increased to the level of irresistible attraction. Existing laws addressing the economic offences have less or no teeth to create deterrence of desired level", he asserted. Rather’s budget, however, had a good news for State Government employees as well as pensioners but not for the Public Sector employees. The Minister sanctioned three per cent pending DA installment in favour of Government employees and pensioners and announced its payment (as well as arrears) in cash. With this, the DA to both employees and pensioners has gone upto 41 per cent of their basic pay. He also sanctioned third and final installment of Fifth Pay Commissioner arrears of Government employees but proposed to credit the amount of final installment to individual GPF accounts. However. the Minister didn’t propose to impose any lock-in period for withdrawal or sanction of advances from this amount saying ‘I will only appeal to them not to withdraw this amount except to meet their dire necessities on items admissible under rules’. He clarified that condition of crediting the amount of 3rd installment of pay revision arrears into GPF account wouldn’t apply to employees, who are going to retire on March 31, 2001. In respect of employees, who don’t have a GPF account or those who are not required to contribute to the GPF accounts, the amount of pay revision arrears shall be paid in cash. The Minister proposed to pay off the second installment of arrears on pension revision to civil pensioners and family pensioners in cash in the next financial year which will involve an expenditure of Rs 34 crore. Rather also announced an increase in the wages of Daily Rated Workers from present Rs 45 per day to Rs 60 per day. He also proposed to increase ration allowance of non-gazetted police personnel from Rs 300 per month to Rs 450 per month. Enhanced rate of ration allowance shall be effective from the next financial year. He also proposed an increase of 50 per cent in the pension of freedom fighters, widows of freedom fighters and un-married daughters of freedom fighters. Simultaneously, the income ceiling for eligibility of this pension shall be enhanced to Rs 50,000 per annum. The budget proposed several reforms in public sector by proposing to extend, as a matter of policy, a ‘Golden Handshake Scheme’ in all Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). Initially, the scheme is being offered to employees of Himalayan Wool Combers Limited, which has been closed down. The ‘Golden Hand Shake’ scheme to all PSUs will enable their surplus staff to seek an attractive package of incentive for separation from employer organisation and settle for a better economic pursuit, Rather said, adding the Government proposed to create a special fund to deal with requirements of this scheme. The budget proposed the plan outlay of Rs 2000 crore only for the next financial year as against Rs 1750 crores given last year. The Finance Minister hoped that at least the Planning Commission will now find it easier to grant early acceptance to our plan in toto. Regarding Security Related Expenditure (SRE), Rather said two very important items of expenditure haven’t been accepted by the Centre for re-imbursement. They include salary of migrant employees and budgetary supports to PSUs. While the current year’s expenditure on migrants salary was estimated around Rs 83.41 crores, the budgetary support for PSUs worked around Rs 75.41 crore. Rather said the SRE, which was budgeted at Rs 253.12 crore is estimated to increase to Rs 401.94 crore in the revised estimate on the basis of projection made by State Government to Ministry of Home Affairs. The next year’s projection on this item has been provisionally kept at Rs 329.55 crore based on the discussions held with Home Affairs Ministry. The budget speech said the State Government had made a strong plea that their old outstanding debts should be written off and the balance pending loans be re-scheduled but regretted that Finance Commission has chosen not to make any recommendations on this issue. Rather said the current year’s budget estimates of total tax revenue were fixed at Rs 693.62 crore and hoped this target to be exceeded in the current year. Revised estimates, he said, have been worked out at Rs 734.78 crore. Next year’s tax revenue targets have been fixed at Rs 794.41 crore. The non-tax revenue
targets were originally fixed at Rs 545.90 crore. The
Revised Estimates are Rs 530.66 crore, showing a short
fall in the receipts mainly on account of lower receipts
from Forest sector. However, the next year’s non-tax
revenue has been projected at Rs 661.58 crores. Budget at a glance * Current year’s budgetary deficit down to mere Rs 124.84 crore, Next year’s budgetary deficit provisionally estimated at Rs 618.73 crores. * Receipts in current year up by Rs 1701.81 crore. Expenditure down by Rs 205.80 crores. * Total disbursements for next year decrease to Rs 9070.49 crores as against Rs 9178.59 crore provided in BE of current year. * Tax collection targets exceeded by Rs 53.16 crore excluding electricity duty, which is lower by Rs 12 crore in comparison to budgetary targets. * Next year’s tax revenue targets fixed at Rs 794.91 crore and non-tax revenue targets at Rs 661.58 crore. * Plan expenditure of current year estimated at Rs 1750 crore and for the next year provisionally fixed at Rs 2000 crore. * Security Related Expenditure over and above the normal expenditure on law and order up from Rs 253.12 crore to Rs 401.94 crore. * Salary payable to migrant employees estimated at Rs 83.41 crore in 2000-2001. * Budgetary support to PSUs kept in RE at Rs 75.41 crore. * Two more IRP battalions being raised in current year taking total strength of armed police battalions to 20. * Rs 13.50 crore being spent on modernisation of police force. Highlights of budget * Import duty on IMFL up from Rs 5 per LPL to Rs 10 per LPL. * Toll tax rates increased upto 10 per cent . Fresh fruits and vegetables, however, exempted. * Electric and electronic goods, Plaster of Paris and Earthmovers brought under the existing list of 12 items for purpose of entry tax. * Sales Tax reduced by four per cent on motor spare parts, tyres and tubes and by three per cent on jewellery and ornaments. * Small scale industrial units exempted from ST on service component of sales of their products. * Benefit of self-assessment scheme extended to the dealers with taxable turnover upto Rs 25 lakh as against the present limit of Rs 10 lakh. * Export fee on IMFL abolished. Liquor industry taken out of negative list. * 100 per cent excise duty concession on rum for defence forces if they lift 100 per cent requirements from local industry. * Golden Handshake Scheme proposed for Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). * Govt to sponsor seminar on economic development of J&K by two Universities of Jammu and Kashmir. * One additional research fellowship to be instituted in Department of Economics in each of the two Universities for research on topics of immediate concern of Government. * War against economic offenders and liquor smugglers. Bill to be introduced in the current session for the purpose. * Process for arrears recovery to be accelerated. * A Bill to be introduced in the current budget session for implementing ‘Roshni’ (described by Opposition as ‘Andhera’) scheme. * Employees get DA installment of three per cent raising total DA to 41 per cent of basic pay/basic pension. Final installment of pay revision sanctioned but credited to GPF. * Daily wagers wages enhanced from Rs 45 per day to Rs 60 per day. Freedom fighters pension up by 50 per cent. Ration allowance of police jawans up from Rs 300 to Rs 450 per month. |
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NDA Govt suffers
embarrassment NEW DELHI, Mar 12: In a major embarrassment, the NDA Government was today censured in the Rajya Sabha on the controversial BALCO disinvestment with the passage of opposition-sponsored amendment to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address to Parliament. The amendment moved by senior Congress member Pranab Mukherjee that the President’s address did not have a mention of the Government decision to sell 51 per cent of its equity in the aluminium company to private Sterlite Industries, was adopted by 103 votes to 64 votes. This is the third time in India’s parliamentary history that the Government suffered embarrassment with the passage of opposition-sponsored amendment on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. The previous two occasions were in 1980 and 1989. Moving the amendment, Mukherjee said he questioned the sale of BALCO to Sterlite Industries because of its "doubtful integrity." In his wide-ranging reply to the three-day marathon discussion on the motion of thanks, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee apart from making statement on Kashmir, asserted that the Government will not interfere in the legal process in Ayodhya case. Maintaining that law would take its own course in the Ayodhya case, the Prime Minister said the Government had never interefered in the legal process in any matter nor would it do so. "Ever since our Government assumed office, it has remained fully committed to the due process of law," he said, noting that unlike in the past, the NDA regime had never withdrawn any criminal case against any individual or individuals associated with the Government. Vajpayee was responding to leader of the opposition Sonia Gandhi’s criticism of Government’s handling of the Kashmir peace initiative and nuclear policy and wanted to know its stand on the three chargesheeted Ministers—L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharti—in the Babri Masjid demolition case. The House, while adopting the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, rejected all amendments by voice vote. On nuclear policy, Vajpayee said the Government would strive to evolve a consensus on it among political parties to ensure that there was no difference of opinion or resentment on the key issue. Vajpayee said a consensus nuclear policy would be one for the entire country and acceptable to future Governments. Vajpayee also said the amendment to the civil procedure court will be brought in the current session of Parliament and said 1,700 new fast track courts would be set up in the country in five years. He said the thrust of the five-point programme is to ensure that "undue harassment is not meted out to the commonman". A National Judicial Commission would soon be set up, he said adding "we have already expressed our commitment for its establishment which will recommend appointment for judiciary and code of conduct." The Prime Minister also announced that a special state status would be accorded to the newly-formed Uttranchal to hasten development activities. "There are problems in states like Uttranchal and the issue of granting special state status is before the Cabinet, he said. He said a special package is being worked out to Kutch and other severely quake-affected areas of Gujarat. On power sector reforms, he said the Government was willing to take unpopular decisions to make available quality and regular power supply in the country. Citing the example of Andhra Pradesh, he said the TDP despite bringing in drastic reforms in the power sector was able to come back to power. "Elections keep coming and going but we should be above politics and there should be consensus on national issues", he said. Vajpayee said he was not averse to holding a meeting of Chief Ministers to have a thorough discussion on the problems faced by farmers in the country. He said the country was facing a unique problem this time - the problem of plenty - as there was surplus production of foodgrains, a phenomenon the country had never faced. He said usually the country faced shortage of foodgrains due to various natural factors like drought and floods but this time the output was in excess and FCI godowns were overflowing. The Government had taken a number of steps to ensure that the foodgrains were preserved in cold storages to be sold later at better price, he said. Allaying opposition apprehension on the WTO regime, Vajpayee said though the country could not run away from the agreement after having signed it, it would face it boldly and protect the interest of farmers. Stating that WTO was a reality and countries could not back out from he said the Government was committed to protecting the interest of domestic industry and farmers. If need be Government will not hesitate to further increase the import duties on such items, he said adding at the same time the domestic industry and agriculture should gear up to face competition. He said there was no evidence of flooding of cheap imports with the phased dismantling of quantitative restrictions. |
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Two kins of Sarpanch shot
at Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 12: An Army Captain and a Naib Subedar were killed in a powerful explosion at village Phagu near Dulligam, about five kms from Banihal in Doda district this afternoon while militants shot at and seriously injured two relatives of a newly elected Sarpanch in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district overnight. Official sources said an IED, planted by the militants, went off at village Phagu when an Army Captain and a Naib Subedar, were leading a patrol party in the village at 1600 hours today. Both of them were killed on the spot. Other members of patrolling party, who were following the duo, cordoned off the area but couldn’t detect any presence of the militants. It appeared that the militant(s) had left the village after planting a powerful IED, the sources said. Bodies of deceased, who have been identified as Captain Hari Raj Kumar and Naib Subedar Parveen Singh of Rashtriya Rifles, were airlifted to Command Hospital, Udhampur for post-mortem after which they will be sent to their native towns tomorrow morning. Senior army and police officers including SDPO Banihal Rupender Chalotra visited the site of explosion. A search operation has been launched in the area by army to eliminate militants involved in the IED blast. No arrest has been made so far. Another army jawan Milind Ahdo of 18 GR was injured in an accidental firing at his transit camp in Banihal this morning. He has been airlifted to Command Hospital, Udhampur. Militants attacked a police post at Barnal near Ramban last night. The firing was replied by SPOs. Police repulsed militants’ attack after about two hours gun-fighting. Militants gunned down a civilian Bashir Ahmed son of Fazal Din, a resident of Bhat Gowari in Gandoh tehsil of Doda. He was killed in the forest area where he had gone to collect firewood. Body of deceased civilian was spotted by some people and was picked up by police. Our Rajouri correspondent adds: Militants attacked the house of a newly elected Sarpanch Munshi Khan at village Nar in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district last mid-night. Not finding Sarpanch in the House, the militants opened firing and critically wounded two of his relatives before fleeing from the spot. Injured were identified as Nawaz Khan son of Ghulam Sarwar and Mst Sharaja Akhtar wife of Abdul Hamid. The injured have been shifted to sub district hospital of Mandi where they were responding to treatment. Police and security forces teams visited the spot today and launched searches in the village. However, the militants remained untraced. Sources said militants’ target was newly elected Sarpanch. Army personnel busted a militants’ hideout in dense forests of Fatehpur in Rajouri district at 1630 hours today. The hideout was detected by an army patrol party in a cave. A Pika gun, one sight and a rucksack were recovered from the hideout. |
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Hurriyat to depute Lone for seeking meeting with Annan SRINAGAR, Mar 12: Hurriyat Conference today decided to depute its senior member Abdul Ghani Lone, considered a moderate, to New Delhi to explore possibilities of a meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during his visit to the union capital. The conglomerate of 23 separatist groups, whose executive council met here today to discuss Annan’s statement ruling out implementation of UN resolutions for resolving the Kashmir issue, said Lone had been asked to seek a meeting with the Secretary General during his stay in New Delhi. "If the meeting between the Hurriyat Conference and the UN chief becomes possible, he would be informed about the wishes of the people of Kashmir and human rights violations taking place in the State," a statement issued after a marathon meeting said. The statement said the meeting also discussed the recent statement by Union Home Minister L K Advani ruling out any mediatory role for the Hurriyat and delay in issuance of passports to a Hurriyat delegation named to visit Pakistan besides organisational matters. On Advani’s statement, the Hurriyat said the conglomerate had offered to visit Pakistan not as a mediator. "But being the basic party to the Kashmir issue, the Hurriyat has taken the step to initiate the process of dialogue," it said. It said the visit of Hurriyat delegation to Pakistan would be an "important step" for resolution of the Kashmir issue and restoration of peace in the sub-continent. "However, the delay by the Centre in issuing the travel documents to the Hurriyat delegation left the visit hanging and created a feeling among the Kashmiris that India, while talking of peace, was creating hurdles in the peace process," the Hurriyat statement said. Regarding the organisational matters, the statement said the Hurriyat executive stressed the need for unity among all the constituents of the conglomerate. "In the larger interests, all the differences would be resolved through consultations," the statement added. Significantly, Jamaat-e-Islami representative Syed Ali Shah Geelani, considered a hardliner, did not attend the meeting of the seven-member council. A Hurriyat spokesman said the Jamaat representative had not been invited for the meet. Hurriyat had recently requested Jamaat to replace Geelani with some other member in the executive council as he had been creating "indiscipline". The request was, however, turned down by the Jamaat. Geelani, meanwhile, held a separate press conference today but refused to comment on his not being invited to the Hurriyat meeting, saying "it is no issue." On why the Hurriyat sought his replacement, Geelani said "indiscipline" has been stated as the reason. (PTI) |
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‘Election budget’
denied Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 12: Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather today predicted that Jammu and Kashmir State will never come out of financial crunch though the State Government was trying to enforce financial discipline. "This State can never become financially viable till all water resources are harnessed with the help of Centre", Rather told a questioner at his customary post-budget press conference in the Assembly lobby. "Our all financial requirements haven’t been fulfilled by the Centre. We need more finances", he said but refused to join issue with the Centre saying ‘they have their own compulsions’. Regretting that State’s annual plan continued to be fixed at Rs 1750 crores for the last three successive years, Rather said the Centre hasn’t agreed to their request of including salary paid to Kashmiri migrants and budgetary support to PSUs, which suffered on account of militancy, in the Security Related Expenditure (SRE). While migrants’ salaries worked out to be around Rs 85 crores in the next financial year, the budgetary support to PSUs came to the tune of Rs 75 crore. Categorically denying that the budget presented by him today was an ‘election budget’ (as no fresh taxes had been imposed), the Finance Minister said "I’m a man of strong conviction and can’t do so’. Moreover, he said, Assembly elections in the State were due next September. He said he wasn’t imposing new taxes but rather stressing on recovery under taxes already imposed by the Government. Besides, some of the already existing taxes have been increased, he pointed out. Criticising Opposition for lambasting his ‘Roshni’ scheme without listening to it, Rather said about about 11 lakh kanals of land has been identified in rural areas and about 8000 kanals in urban belt, which will be covered under this scheme. Rates for this scheme, which was introduced by Rather in the last budget under which the Government proposed to legalise encroached lands, were being fixed, he said, adding a Bill to this effect was being introduced in the current budget session. He said Wakf and Evacuee properties don’t fall under ‘Roshni’. According to Finance Minister, the Government will this year lay special stress on recovery of taxes and arrears and curb corruption. "When we succeed in recovering taxes and arrears, only then we can introduce new taxes", he opined. He disclosed that Government had attached property of 48 traders for non-payment of Sales Tax. Properties of those, who don’t pay taxes, will be auctioned, he warned. Regarding corruption, Rather appealed to the people to stop paying and taking corruption. He said the Government was planning to book economic offenders under Public Safety Act (PSA). |
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* Finance Minister A R Rather, surrounded by a battery of photo journalists and electronic mediamen, entered Legislative Assembly only a minute short of 10.30 AM when he was scheduled to start his budget speech. * BSP Legislature Party leader Sheikh Abdul Rehman wanted to know whether this year’s budget was also based on mere speculation as was the case with last year’s budget when the Finance Minister had projected annual plan at Rs 2500 crore but Centre sanctioned only Rs 1750 crore. * BJP City East MLA Ashok Khajuria demanded that Kashmiri migrants should be sent back to the Valley. His remarks ‘Kashmir Migranton Ko Wapis Bhejo’ came when Rather was referring to salary being paid to migrants here, which was not being included by the Centre in Security Related Expenditure. * When Rather started his speech, Piara Singh (BJP) wanted to know :‘Iske Haath Kayon Kaamp Rahe Hein"? Harshdev Singh (Panthers Party) and Lal Singh (Congress-I) also remarked : "Isko Shivering Ho Rahi Hai’. * As Rather’s budget speech prolonged, Harshdev Singh appealed to Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil to treat it as read saying ‘no one in the House was listening to the budget’. * When Rather referred to his ‘Roshni’ scheme, several Opposition members were on their feet. While Piara Singh described it as ‘Beimani Ki Roshni’, Ashok Sharma (Congress-I) shouted ‘Roshni Scheme Hai Hai’. * Again when Rather referred to drive against tax evaders, he was asked by Opposition members to first start it from ruling party MLAs including former Minister Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, who wasn’t present in the House. * ‘50,000 Ka Sipahi Aur 50,000 Ka Chaprasi, Phir Corruption Kaise Khatam Hogi’, Piara Singh remarked when Rather referred to a drive against corruption. * An office bearer of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu was seen clapping from Speaker’s gallery when Finance Minister announced some concessions for traders. * Several Government officers including PA of a Minister had intruded into press gallery. * Two journalists had a tiff in Finance Minister’s post-budget briefing when an Information Department employee, distributing copies of budget speech, gave preference to a scribe, who behaves more like PA of an Information Department officer than a reporter. * Another officer of Information Department argued with a senior accredited photo journalist Ashok Sodhi of Daily Excelsior asking him to explain his identity when he sought a copy of budget speech. Such was the mess in press briefing that a lady journalist Smita Mishra had to seek the intervention of Finance Minister to get a copy of budget speech. |
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Pak asked to
change unfriendly attitude NEW DELHI, Mar 12: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today firmly asked Pakistan to change its "unfriendly attitude" towards India and asserted that Government will soon hold talks with all parties to carry forward the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir. Admitting that there had been some delay in initiating talks in J and K, Vajpayee said "we are soon going to hold talks. We will have talks with all the parties and make efforts to find a solution to the Kashmir problem." Vajpayee said he did not want to go into the reasons which had delayed the talks but made it clear that Government was not responsible for this. "There are other reasons too which I will disclose at an appropriate time," he said while replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. "We want to hold talks before the ceasefire extension ends in May, he said adding the talks would be "transparent" and cover all aspects that were within the framework of country’s constitution and will be held with all parties. In reply to a query from senior Congress leader Arjun Singh whether the Government was committed to the resolution of declaring Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of India, Vajpayee said that "resolution stood" and there was no change in it. Vajpayee also spoke of a change in international perspective on the Jammu and Kashmir issue. This was reflected in UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s remarks in Pakistan when he endorsed the Lahore peace initiative by India, the Prime Minister said. Annan had ruled out implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir or a separate human rights commission for Kashmir saying lasting solution to the problem lay in implementation of the Lahore declaration. Rejecting the opposition charge that the Government had not taken it into confidence on the peace exercise, Vajpayee told them that no decisive step had been taken without consulting them. "It is everyone’s responsibility and we will fulfil this task jointly". Accusing Pakistan of aiding and abetting terrorism, he said Islamabad "must change its unfriendly attitude towards India". Vajpayee said the Ramzan ceasefire announcement was widely welcomed both in the country and by the international community. "India wants peace and everyone accepts this approach. A change in international attitude on the J and K issue is taking place and Kofi Annan’s statement (in Pakistan) is a clear indication," he said observing those who made fun of his Lahore visit should do some introspection. "Diplomacy is necessary but, at the same time, we have to initiate steps taking people into confidence," he said. Ealier ,in a scathing attack against the Government, leader of the opposion, Sonia Gandhi accused it of not having clear policy on Kashmir and blamed it for the worsening plight of farmers and labourers in the country. Interspering the reply with his characteristic wit, Vajpayee had digs at Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and CPI-M member Somnath Chatterjee who attacked Government’s policies. On Yadav’s charge that the country was being sold in the name of disinvestment, Vajpayee shot back saying that there was no one who could buy this country. Any person who tries to sell India would be thrown out of power by the people, he said. Citing a recent article in an English weekly on the Prime Minister Office, Vajpayee chided news journals for publishing unverified information and "baseless stories" saying that they had their own politics to play.(PTI) |
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Six civilians, 3
militants among 12 killed in Valley Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 12: In over half-a-dozen militant attacks on Police and security forces, at least three officials of the counter-insurgent Special Operations Group (SOG), equal number of militants besides six civilians have got killed in Kashmir valley since last evening. While as one civilian has died in a grenade attack at Hari Singh High Street in the capital city here, 28 civilians and four BSF personnel have sustained injuries this evening. In a suicidal attack, militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba organisation eliminated at least three officials of SOG Baramulla’s Palhalan Camp, near Pattan, this afternoon. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that a sentry of the camp, situated at Babateng Kutta Morh, observed the suspicious movement of a young man wearing Kashmiri Pheran, who was proceeding towards a nearby shrine, at 1515 hours this afternoon. As soon as the SOG sentry asked the young man to put off his cloak, he whipped out an AK-56 rifle and directed a burst on the three officers basking in the sunshine in their garden chairs. All the three officers got killed on spot. They were identified as incharge of the camp Inspector Kanwal Singh of Udhampur, Sub Inspector Mohammad Amin of Cheril Banihal and Assistant Sub Inspector Mohammad Sultan of Aishmuqam Pahalgam. In retaliation, the SOG guards gunned down the unidentified militant. An identity card in the name of Fayaz Ahmed Dar S/o Ghulam Nabi Dar R/o Adipora Sopore, was recovered from his pocket. However, till late this evening it could not be ascertained whether the I-card was a real one or fake. Officials said that during the encounter, a civilian, identified as Abdur Rasheed Ganai S/o Ghulam Mohammad Ganai R/o Mir Mohalla, Pattan, got killed while as his brother had a narrow escape. The two brothers were busy in sprinking pesticides in their orchard in close vicinity of the camp. Civilians, however, disputed the official version and alleged that Ganai was killed by the angry SOG personnel who failed to take on other members of the militant squad. Abu Usama, a spokesman of Lashkar-e-Toiba based in Pakistan, claimed that two Fidayeen of his organisation stormed the SOG camp in broad daylight. He confirmed the death of one militant and said that another one withdrew from the camp safely. He identified the duo as Javed Rizwan and Abu Weqas and said that one of them was a Kashmiri and another a Pakistani national. Earlier today, security forces had recovered an IED from Srinagar-Baramulla highway which was found planted at the military-dominated hamlet of Rangi Tappar. It was defused. In Baramulla district again, militants in ambush executed a grenade attack on a patrol party of SOG’s Tangmarg camp at Chandilora, on Srinagar-Gulmarg road this afternoon. While as one civilian, namely Abid Hussain Mir S/o Mohammad Ashraf Mir of Hariwatnoo, got killed, two SOG personnel sustained injuries. They were identified as constable Sanjiv Kumar of IRP 6th battlion and SPO Bashir Ahmed. 2 ultras killed Officials sources said that militants attacked a patrol of Rashtriya Rifles 14th Bn and SOG Baramulla, camp Bandipore, at Lawaypora village in Bandipore locality of north Kashmir this afternoon. Two unidentified militrants got killed and two AK-56 rifles, one wireless set and some hand grenades were recovered from the spot. Residents, however, claimed that troops raided a civilian Mohammad Hussain Malik’s house and eliminated the two militants while destroying the targetted house. They claimed that the house-owner, Mohammad Hussain Malik S/o Sarwar Malik, burnt to death. Reports available from Kupwara said that a large number of people put up a protest demonstration at Handwara against the allegedly custodial killing of a civilian by security forces. Residents of Handwara area alleged that Shams-ud-din Wani S/o Abdul Ahad Wani of Zab Magam, Handwara, had been arrested by Sirajpora camp of RR’s 6th Bn and later eliminated in a fake encounter. His dead body was recovered today from Bonawatsar, Kramhore forest area. Describing the slain individual as an innocent civilian, residents said that troops had earlier killed Shams-ud-din’s brother, Mohammad Ramzan Wani, in 1998. Official version of the incident was not available. Civilian killed, 32 injured Here in the capital city, militants lobbed a hand grenade towards the bunker of BSF 127 Bn at Amira Kadal, near Hari Singh High Street, this evening. Four BSF officials and 29 civilians sustained splinter injuries and they were rushed to different hospitals. Later a critically wounded Ghulam Mohammad Sodagar of Anantnag succumbed to injuries at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura. His critically injured son, Shahnawaz, was battling for life at SKIMS. A militant outfit, J&K Islamic Front, has reportedly claimed responsibility of the blast. Earlier today an unidentified dead body had been fished out from Dal Lake. Official sources said that during last night, militants tossed a hand grenade on the house of one Aftab Ahmed Qureshi S/o late Mohammad Maqbool Qureshi at Narabal. His house suffered minor damage in the attack. Aftab is a branch manager in Ellaquai Dehati Bank and he is also known for his political connections with the ruling National Conference. |
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PATNA, Mar 12: The dissidence against RJD president Laloo Prasad Yasav got a major boost today when senior party leader A Prasad Tekriwal resigned from the Rabri Devi cabinet demanding change of leadership. Tekriwal, who had been speaking the language of the dissidents for quite some time now but had not formally joined them, sent in his papers to both the Chief Minister and Governor V C Pande, requesting immediate acceptance. The Finance Minister’s resignation came barely an hour before the special RJD Legislature Party meeting convened by the Chief Minister to discuss growing dissidence in the party. Announcing his resignation at a press conference at his official residence 15 minutes after replying to the debate on the budget in the Assembly, Tekriwal said "I quit the cabinet as all my demands for a qualitative change in the functioning of the Government went unheeded". Replying to a question, he said, however, he would continue in the RJD and pursue his agenda of change in the Government’s leadership. Tekriwal said he would have resigned even earlier, but since it was he who had presented the budget "it was my responsibility to conclude the process....Now that it is over I thought it was time I put in my papers". Charging the Rabri-Laloo regimes with having failed to deliver the goods for over 11 years, Tekriwal said, "I could not make myself aggreable to continue in a Government which gave the people of the State nothing but mere slogans". Tekriwal alleged he had received anonymous death threats over phone at least thrice. Several attempts, he claimed, were made by the RJD president and the Chief Minister for a truce, but he had spurned the offer, as the RJD leadership "showed no inclination" to replace Rabri. "The Government is being run by Laloo Prasad Yadav, who is like a tree which did not bear fruit all these years ... Now people like me are searching for another tree which can bear fruits of development," he said dropping fair hints at joining the dissidents, who have under the leadership of Rajya Sabha MP Ranjan Prasad Yadav launched an `oust Laloo-Rabri’ campaign. Tekriwal said he had placed two major demands before Laloo’s envoys, working for a rapprochement, which were rejected outright. His demands included that Rabri Devi hand over the home and personnel departments to other cabinet colleagues (excluding Tekriwal), a cabinet sub-committee be constituted to look into the functioning of the Government and Laloo Prasad Yadav be strictly kept away from all matters of governance. (PTI) |
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Walk out by
opposition Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 12: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA , Prithvi Chand was today marshaled out from the State Assembly during Question Hour while all BJP members and lone Janata Dal Secular member, Dr Jagdish Raj Dubey staged a walk out in protest against the failure of Government to fill up the vacant posts of Class fourth employees in various departments. The trouble began when BJP member who stood up to raise a supplementary to the question of Mir Saifullah said that a large number of class fourth posts are lying vacant in different departments. He also tried to show a paper in this regard to the House. He continued to make the arguments despite the repeated requests by the Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil to take the seat. Even when the Chair asked Som Nath to raise his supplementary on the issue, the member continued his speech by displaying a copy of some Government order towards the Chair. He was supported by his Party colleagues and lone JD Secular member who all were on their toes to corner the Government on the issue. The BJP members who were supporting their colleague expressed resentment for not allowing the member to speak. This resulted into heated exchanges between some members from Treasury benches and Opposition BJP and the later staged walk out in protest. While these members left the House, Prithvi Chand trooped into Well to disrupt proceedings. The member tried to make arguments with the Chair saying you did not allow me to speak. He again displayed the copy of the Government order there. Taking the serious notice of Member’s behaviour,the Speaker called the Marshal and asked him to evict the member from House. Prior to it noisy scenes were witnessed in the House when Prithvi Chand did not relent and continued his arguments even after Som Nath stood up to raise his supplementary on the issue. But nothing was audible in the din. For some time Prithvi Chand was seen making arguments with Speaker. Earlier, Farooq Mir and Dr Jagdish Dubey through their supplementaries said that the MLAs were deprived of making class fourth appointments while about 125 persons were appointed, some even in gazetted cadre, by bureaucrats through back door entry. The BSP member Sagar Chand who also supported them walked out of House in protest saying that the Government had promised that every MLA will make 50 appointments on Class Fourth posts in his Constituency but later backtracked from it. It was an embarrassment for the Government when through their supplementaries the NC MLAs also took it to task on the issue of back door appointments. However, the Acting Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Mohi-u-Din Shah denied that any back door appointment has been made by any bureaucrat. He said only militancy affected people have been appointed on humantarian grounds on Chief Minister’s guidance. But rebutting Mr Shah, his Party legislator Safdar Ali Beg made a strong argument saying that the recent decision of Cabinet to terminate the employees indicates that back door appointments have been made. Earlier, Mr Shah denied that thousands of posts of Class Fourth employees are lying vacant in different departments while replying to a question of Mir Saifullah of NC. He said recruitment in Government Departments has been stopped in general during 2000-2001, which include Class VI posts also, barring certain exceptions. He maintained that there is no proposal before the Government to lift the present ban. |
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Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Mar 12: Four people were killed while 19 others were injured after a mini bus carrying members of the marriage party fell into a deep nullah at Nerojal, 10 kilometers from here this evening while negotiating a sharp curve. According to reports the three persons died on spot while the fourth succumbed to his injuries in front of District Hospital Rajouri when he was being shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital Jammu for treatment. The injured persons have been admitted in Sub District Hospital Rajouri. The dead include Talib Shah and his son Zafar Shah, Abdul Aziz and Ali Shah. They all are the residents of village Planger. The mini bus bearing No 1549, JK02 was returning with the members of marriage party from Pander, Kalakote to Pander in Thanamandi. It fell into the nullah at Nerojal when driver lost control on steering while negotiating a sharp curve. The mini bus was overloaded with passengers. Soon after the incident the police and medical teams rushed to the site of accident for rescue operations. The bride and bridegroom have also received minor injuries in the accident. |
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PM asks Pak to change "unfriendly attitude" NEW DELHI, Mar 12: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today firmly asked Pakistan to change its "unfriendly attitude" towards India and asserted that Government will soon hold talks with all parties to carry forward the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir. Admitting that there had been some delay in initiating talks in J and K, Vajpayee said "we are soon going to hold talks. We will have talks with all the parties and make efforts to find a solution the Kashmir problem." Vajpayee said he did not want to go into the reasons which had delayed the talks but made it clear that Government was not responsible for this. "There are other reasons too which I will disclose at an appropriate time," he said while replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. Vajpayee also spoke of a change in international perspective on the Jammu and Kashmir issue. This was reflected in UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s remarks in Pakistan when he endorsed the Lahore peace initiative by India, the Prime Minister said. Annan had ruled out implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir or a separate human rights commission for Kashmir saying lasting solution to the problem lay in implementation of the Lahore declaration. Rejecting the opposition charge that the Government had not taken it into confidence on the peace exercise, Vajpayee told them that no decisive step had been taken without consulting them. "It is everyone’s responsibility and we will fulfil this task jointly". Accusing Pakistan of aiding and abetting terrorism, he said Islamabad "must change its unfriendly attitude towards India". Vajpayee said the Ramzan ceasefire announcement was widely welcomed both in the country and by the international community. "India wants peace and everyone accepts this approach. A change in international attitude on the J and K issue is taking place and Kofi Annan’s statement (in Pakistan) is a clear indication," he said observing those who made fun of his Lahore visit should do some introspection. "Diplomacy is necessary but, at the same time, we have to initiate steps taking people into confidence," he said. (PTI) |
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