Manmohan clears doubts on loan waiver
PM hopes new Pak Govt will put past behind
*All party meet on Women's bill soon

NEW DELHI, Mar 5: With a new democratically-elected Government set to assume office in Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today hoped the new leadership there will work with India in putting the "past behind" for "enduring peace" and collective prosperity of the two countries.

Singh said he saw a "ray of hope" as he noted that the leaders of main political parties of Pakistan, in their first pronouncements after the elections, had spoken of their interest in developing close relations and working with India to bring about durable peace.

"India wants to live in peace with Pakistan. The destinies of our two nations are interlinked," he said while replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to President’s in both houses of Parliament.

Emphasizing that he has a "vision" for the future of India and Pakistan, he said "we need to put the past behind us. We need to think about our collective destiny, our collective security, our collective prosperity."

Noting that there is a consensus in both countries for having "close and cooperative relations" and a "framework for enduring peace", Singh hoped "the newly-elected leaders in Pakistan can quickly move forward with us on this. We would welcome this and meet them half-way."

Singh did not identify anyone while talking about the pronouncements by the new leaders of Pakistan but was obviously referring to recent statement by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, whose party is set to take the reins of power in that country.

Zardari, in a statement marking shift in Pakistan’s long-standing position, had said that the two countries should develop friendly relations, setting aside the Kashmir issue to be resolved by future generations.

"We seek good relations with Pakistan... I believe that in both countries, there is consensus that we must have close and cooperative relations and a framework for enduring peace," Singh said.

He said the dialogue resumed with Pakistan over the last few years was started when Benazir Bhutto and Rajiv Gandhi were Prime Ministers.

Rejecting Opposition charge that the farm loan waiver was announced with an eye on elections, Manmohan Singh said it was a historic initiative to meet the "unpaid distress bill" left behind by the erstwhile NDA Government.

An unusually aggressive Singh, responding to the debate in the Lok Sabha on President’s Address, also brushed aside the opposition charge that Government was resorting to appeasement of minority communities, saying all efforts were towards reducing the "inequality" in opportunities.

"Doubts have been raised about the resources required for this write-off," he said referring to questions raised by Leader of Opposition L K Advani and other members asking the Government how it could provide the whopping Rs 60,000 crore towards waiver of bank loans to small and marginal farmers.

"Let me remind the Leader of the Opposition that what we have done is nothing more than picking up the unpaid distress bill which the NDA Government left behind," Singh said.

On allegations that the Government was trying to appease minorities with different programmes, he said "we are trying to reduce inequalities of opportunities, gaps that exist between region, between classes, between urban and rural areas. This is part of the process of inclusive growth."

In his hour-long reply, the Prime Minister touched on Government’s priority areas including national security, health, education, employment and foreign policy.

The entire Opposition led by BJP walked out of the House expressing dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister’s reply. The Left parties also followed suit later demanding immediate bringing forward of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Government will seek the "broadest possible consensus" within the country to enable the next steps to be taken on the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said.

"We are presently engaged in negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for an India-specific safeguards agreement."

India also requires the nod of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to enable international nuclear commerce with it.

"We also continue to seek the broadest possible consensus within the country to enable the next steps to be taken. I believe that such operation is good for us, for our energy security and for the world," Singh said.

Singh made a special reference to remarks by former US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott that NDA Government had agreed to settle for much less on the nuclear issue, evoking loud protests from BJP benches.

Talbott and NDA External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh had held 14 rounds of talks to bring back on track Indo-US relations which had touched a new low in the wake of the 1998 Pokhran explosions.

Singh welcomed former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra’s open support for the deal.

The NDA also came under attack on issues of internal security while in power.

Singh termed as a "shameful sight" the then External Affairs Minister "escorting dreaded terrorists to their freedom."

Seeking to "nail the lie" that his Government had provided easy legal regime for terrorists, Singh said "legal regimes do not prevent terror. If that had been the case, there would have been no attack on Akshardham or on the Raghunath Mandir."

Singh announced that an all-party meet would be called soon to evolve a consensus on the vexed issue of the Women’s Reservation Bill whose passage had been stalled for several years.

He said, "The time has come once again to broadbase consensus to bring a Bill on this issue as soon as possible."

However seeking a categorical assurance, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat persisted with her demand that the Government should not delay further and must table the Bill before the next session to allow women to contest in the next elections according to the allotted seats. "Otherwise your Government will be solely responsible," she said.

Responding, Dr Singh said that as soon as the House dispersed by March 20, he would ask for an all-party meet to evolve consensus on the Bill assuring 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.

Not satisfied with his reply, the BJP staged a walkout over the women’s Reservation Bill and the Ramsetu issue.(Agencies)

IT Deptt strikes in Valley with vengeance
Misuse of Rs 50 crore industrial benefit detected

By Mohinder Verma

Jammu, Mar 5: For the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, the Income Tax Department has unearthed misuse of industrial benefits running in more than Rs. 50 crore.

The benefit of such a huge amount by adopting illegal means has been detected during the series of surveys conducted by Income Tax Department teams simultaneously in the premises of pesticide manufacturing industry at national Capital, Jammu and Srinagar.

Reliable sources told the Excelsior that while reviewing the cases of industrial benefits granted by the Central Government to the industrial units in Jammu and Kashmir, the Income Tax Department came to know that an industrialist from Kashmir valley has claimed huge benefit on the basis of fake and forged documents.

Subsequently, Income Tax Commissioner, J&K Circle, Virendera Singh deputed a special team to cross -check the information with the official records of the department. After hectic exercise, the Income Tax Department succeeded in establishing that the industrialist claimed 'undue' benefits over a long period of time and caused loss to the tune of several crores of rupees to the Government exchequer.

Finally, several teams were constituted and deputed to conduct surveys in the offices of the industrialist at Gurgaon and Delhi, factory at Bari Brahmana in Jammu and residential house, factory and cold storage at Srinagar.

"The Income Tax Commissioner is himself camping at summer capital of the State to personally supervise the survey", the sources said, adding the survey which started this forenoon continued till late this evening and is likely to conclude tomorrow morning.

They said that several incriminating documents were impounded from the offices, factories and cold storage of the industrialist which revealed that during the past 10 years he has claimed 'undue' income tax benefits worth Rs. 50 crore. The quantum of 'undue' tax benefit is likely to go up after thorough and complete scrutiny of the impounded documents, the sources revealed.

Sources said that to claim Income Tax benefits under the industrial package granted by the Central Government, the industrialists in Jammu and Kashmir, are required to fulfill certain conditions laid down by the Central Government but this industrialist claimed the benefits by indulging into the mal-practices.

Although the Income Tax Commissioner Virendra Singh refused to divulge the details of the survey, however, the sources revealed that large scale manipulation of the records is going to be unearthed after the final scrutiny of the records.

Sources also revealed that this was for the first time that Income Tax Department has unearthed misuse of industrial benefits in Jammu and Kashmir.It was again for the first time that a large scale survey was conducted in the Kashmir valley.

The Income Tax Department has time and again requested the businessmen not to make any effort to evade tax and file income tax returns purely on the basis of their exact income, the sources said, adding ‘‘it is due to the non-cooperative attitude of some industrialists and businessmen that Income Tax Department is resorting to direct action like surveys.’’

The businessmen, who have not adhered to the warning of the Income Tax Department so far, have the last opportunity to disclose their exact income and file returns and pay last instalment of advance tax in order to avoid direct action on the part of IT Department.

It is worthwhile to mention here that last year Income Tax Department’s investigation wing conducted series of raids in the premises of renowned industrialist which led to recovery of several crores of undisclosed income.

It is also worthwhile to mention here that during the past two years, the Income Tax Department has succeeded in raising the Tax collections from Rs. 180 cr to around Rs. 500 cr during current fiscal.

Jamwal elected Deputy Mayor for third time
Cross voting marks Kavinder's victory

By Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, Mar 5: Cross voting marked the victory of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kavinder Gupta as Mayor in the 71 member Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), the elections for which were held here today, by defeating Congress candidate, Manmohan Singh alias Pinka by a margin of three votes.

National Conference (NC) candidate, Dharam Vir Singh Jamwal was elected as Deputy Mayor for the third consecutive term by defeating BJP backed independent candidate, Jaswant Singh Sudhan by a margin of 10 votes. Earlier Mrs Usha Choudhary, the BJP Corporator who had also filed her papers for the post of Deputy Mayor withdrew her name from contest.

BJP candidate, Kavinder Gupta who was declared elected by the Commissioner JMC Vinod Sharma, got 37 votes, while his Congress rival Manmohan Singh got 34 votes. For the post of Deputy Mayor NC’s Dharam Vir Singh Jamwal got 40 votes while his opponent and independent candidate, Mr Sudhan got 30 votes. One vote was declared invalid.

Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Mayor, Mrs Rani Gargi Balouria acted as Presiding Officer during the election of Mayor while newly elected Mayor Kavinder Gupta acted as the Presiding Officer during the election of Deputy Mayor.

While the victory of Mr Gupta is being viewed as a moral boost to the BJP and its cadre, it has given a setback to Congress and its leadership which till last minutes was confident of Party’s victory.

It may be recalled that Congress and NC had tied up to ensure the victory of their respective candidates for the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The Congress has a strength of 27 corporators, while the NC has six members and two of People's Democratic Party (PDP) an ally of Congress. This takes their tally to 33, three short of magic figure of 36 needed for victory. The BJP has 25 members while Shiv Sena and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) one each besides nine independents.

As Kavinder Gupta was declared elected by Returning Officer, the BJP corporators present on the occasion greeted him.

Later the NC members also made jubilations in the JMC Hall after Dharamvir Singh Jamwal was declared elected by Mr Sharma. The NC members and senior Partymen including its provincial vice president, Rattan Lal Gupta, Party MLCs, Devinder Singh Rana and T S Wazir and another leader, Chander Mohan Sharma also greeted Mr Jamwal.

Outside the JMC a large number of supporters of BJP and NC were celebrating the victory of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. They danced to the beating of drums. The BJP activists were led by Party senior leader and former, MoS Defence, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta. Later Kavinder Gupta was taken into a cavalcade of vehicles to Party office Kachi Chawni to celebrate the victory.

Mr Jamwal accompanied by senior party leaders was also taken into a procession by his partymen to Party office Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan.

Later talking to reporters BJP Seh Prabhari and Party senior leader, R P Singh said that he was fully confident about Gupta’s victory. Mr Singh, who reached here this morning said it was a prestigious point for BJP and Party has really made it. He said the Mayor’s election will have a definite impact on the coming Assembly elections in the State. He termed the election results as a morale booster for BJP. BJP State chief Ashok Khajuria said it was a occasion of celebration for the Party. He also complimented the Party corporators and its supporters. Kavinder Gupta termed the win as victory of nationalist forces and senior leaders of the Party.

He said his Party had no tie up with NC for the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, but miracles took place for BJP and such surprises will also be seen in Assembly poll for the Party. "We backed Jaswant Singh Sudhan for the post of Deputy Mayor", he added.

The BJP had withdrawn its Deputy Mayor candidate Usha Chaudhary in the morning in favour of Mr Sudhan.

Terming that election victory was a moral boost for BJP, Mr Singh said his Party will not have any tie up with NC in ensuing Assembly elections. However, Party will have a tie up with like-minded parties and nationalist forces in the State, he added.

BJP State chief Ashok Khajuria said it was a occasion of celebration for the Party. He also complimented the Party corporators and its supporters.

Kavinder Gupta termed it a victory of nationalist forces and senior leaders of the Party. He said his priority will be to fight against the indiscrimination meted out to Jammu. He said his victory was the result of his performance as Party Mayor during the first term in 2005.

According to sources the BJP, corporators were warned by senior Party leaders that indiscipline will not be tolerated at any cost. The Party Prabhari for J&K and senior leader, Manohar Lal convened a meeting of the Party corporators and senior leaders here yesterday in which they were directed to ensure the victory of their candidate in the election.

Same directives were given to them by R P Singh on his arrival here, this morning.

The senior BJP leaders including Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta and former president and national Executive Member, Dr Nirmal Singh were also present in the press conference.

Azad sees hope for other prisoners in Pak

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 5: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has welcomed the release of Kashmir Singh from Pakistani jail after 35 years, saying it was a good beginning towards the release of other Indian prisoners in the neighbouring country's prisons.

Talking to media persons on the sidelines of concluding day of 3rd All India Police Martyrs' hockey tournament here today, Mr Azad hoped the release of Kashmir Singh would herald the release of other prisoners as well.

Asked if efforts were made to seek the release of prisoners from J&K who might be languishing in Pakistani jails, he said the Government of India had been pursuing with Islamabad the release of all Indian prisoners. He said the matter was being pushed ever since the relations between the two countries had started improving.

In reply to a question about the recent statement of the co-chairperson of Pakistan People's Party, Asif Ali Zardari suggesting that Kashmir issue should not be allowed to become a stumbling block in improvement of bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, Mr Azad said that India had been always saying that trade, tourism, people to people contact and exchanges of journalists and politicians should go on side by side with the dialogue process. He said these things should not wait for the ultimate outcome of peace process.

Militant strike on Usman foiled
4 militants killed in Valley

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 5: Police and Army have killed four militants in two separate gunbattles in Bandipore and Handwara areas in north Kashmir since last evening.

Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that the overnight operation of the troops of 23-Paunjab and 10-Para (Special Force) concluded in the afternoon today as both the holed up militants got killed. As already reported, troops had launched a cordon-and-search operation at Wudinar Argam, near Chitti Bandi, in Bandipore after some militants opened fire on a patrol party in a chance encounter last evening. One militant had died in the initial round of firing and one more had got trapped inside a residential house last night. Sources said that troops destroyed the target hideout, killing one-odd holed up militant today.

Official sources said that one of the two militants killed in the Bandipore gunbattle had been identified as Abu Abdullah alias Mohammad Saleem of district Chubra, Tehsil Laba, Pakistan. They maintained that both the militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba. Two AK-47 rifles, 8 magazines, 2 pouches and cash worth Rs 2,700 were recovered from possession of the militants killed. However, Defence sources identified the duo as Abu Abdullah alias Mistri and Imdadullah alias Maddadullah who was reportedly Lashkar-e-Toiba's "Battalion Commander" in Bandipore.

A Defence spokesman claimed that both the Lashkar militants were eliminated at a time when they were planning a strike on the former counter-insurgent and now MLA Bandipore, Usman Majeed. Majeed, who has functioned as a Minister of State in Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's Government in 2002-05, has survived a number of militant attacks including a massive car bomb strike near Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar. He is one among the few counter-insurgent commanders who are still alive inspite of high threat perception.

Sources said that a joint patrol party of 2-Para (Special Force) and SOG Handwara (camp Zachaldara) was fired upon by a group of militants on a snowbound track between Peth Wudar and Mooldari, Bangus, in Handwara-Nowgam belt in the forenoon today. Troops and SOG personnel retaliated the fire , killing two militants in the 3-hour-long gunbattle. They were both unidentified though the name of 'Dilawar Khan alias Badri' was found written on the diary of one militant.

Sources said that Police and security forces learned from the villagers that the two militants killed in the encounter were actually members of a thicker group of militants which was believed to have lately infiltrated into the Valley. Troops accordingly associated a reinforcement of RR 21 Bn and Handwara Police with the search operation and extended the same to a large area between Rajwar and Bangus valleys. Officials said movement of at least two to three more militants of the group had been established in the area which has still about 4 ft snow.

Here in the Capital city, dead body of 50-year-old Jagmal Singh S/o Buta Ram R/o Admorth, Ellora, Rajasthan, was found inside a shop in Badami Bagh cantonment area. Singh had been working as a salesman at the shop of one Vishal Agarwal. Police have taken custody of the dead body, registered FIR and launched investigation into the death in mysterious circumstances.

Police have, meanwhile, launched an investigation into the grenade blast that occurred at the residence of one Abdul Hameed Nengroo in Rishi Nagri, Shopian, last evening, killing one Bashir Ahmed Wagay S/o Ghulam Qadir Wagay R/o Koral Manzgam and 65-year-old Janti W/o Abdur Rasheed Nengroo. Five more inmates have sustained injuries in the blast. Sources said that the family members insisted to Police that someone threw a bomb into the room from outside which exploded. However, Police have developed suspicion that someone in the house actually mishandled a hand grenade which went off accidentally.

EC bars practice of manual EPICs
J&K voters to get bilingual I-cards

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 5: The Election Commission of India has stopped the existing scheme of manually issuing unilingual Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) and directed that new cards be issued in bilingual i.e. English and Urdu or English Hindi as the case may be as per languages for preparation of electoral rolls in the State.

The Election Department of J&K planned to launch a massive drive for preparation of new bilingual identity cards instead of unilingual cards, as were being issued earlier, during summer vacations in educational institutions when the Government teachers will be available for the task in large number.

Out of a total of 62.59 lakh electorate in the State, the Election Department has issued 42 lakh EPICs while nearly 21 lakh residual voters were yet to be issued the identity cards.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), J&K, B R Sharma, when contacted, told the Excelsior that the Department’s effort would be to issue voter identity cards to all 63 lakh voters before the State Assembly elections if they are held on schedule in September-October this year.

However, even if all voters couldn’t be issued the EPICs, they will be allowed to cast their votes using any of 14 identity proof prescribed by the Election Commission of India which include driving license, passport, school or college and employee identity cards etc, Mr Sharma said.

The new photo identity cards to be issued by the Election Department will be bilingual i.e. English and Urdu or English and Hindi as the case may be as per the languages for preparation of electoral rolls. A decision to this effect was taken after receiving a directive from the Election Commission of India.

The EC has directed that latest digital/electronic technology should be used to issue EPICs to the residual electorates. The existing scheme of manually issuing unilingual EPICs has been done away with, sources said.

Special summary revision of electoral rolls for 86 out of 87 Assembly constituencies of the State was published on February 25 in Urdu and Hindi in Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Samba and Reasi districts. Summary revision for Poonch Assembly segment where bypoll was held in December this year is yet to be published, sources said, adding the publication of electoral rolls in English was pending.

The process to publish the electoral rolls in English was also on.

While no summary revision of electoral rolls will be carried out now before the Assembly elections, updation of rolls will done if the elections are held after August, sources said.

Sources said like 2002 Assembly elections, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in the upcoming Assembly election this year as well in all 87 Assembly segments.

SVO detects Janak's more assets

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 5: The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today found more property worth Rs 1.5 crore in the possession of Tehsildar Recovery, Jammu, Janak Singh, who was arrested last month after his assets worth nearly Rs 4 crore were detected.

Official sources said during continued scrutiny of documents, a SVO team headed by SSP Vigilance S D Singh, found documents in which Janak Singh had purchased 5 kanals and 10 marlas of land at Deeli, Channi.

Present market value of the land was nearly Rs 1.5 crore.

The land had been purchased by Janak Singh on the name of his brother-in-law, Raghubir Singh and father-in-law, Gandharab Singh, sources said.

Sources said further scrutiny of documents recovered from business and residential premises of Janak Singh was on and possibility of detection of some more arrests was not ruled out.

Surrendered ultra shot dead

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 5: Militants gunned down a surrendered militant at Masjid Mohalla in Nowgam area of Marwah in Kishtwar district last night.

The victim has been identified as Nasir Hussain son of Bahadur Wani R/o Nowgam, Marwah.

After his surrender, Nasir had been released and was living a normal life.

Police said a militant fired at him from close range at Masjid Mohalla last night when he was going to local mosque for offering prayers from his house.

He was killed on spot while the militant managed to escape. Police have launched a search operation in the area to nab the killer.

CRPF jawan commits suicide

SRINAGAR, Mar 5: A CRPF jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle here, police said today.

Constable Mahaveer Singh of 137 battalion of the CRPF, posted at Panchayat Bhawan at Zakoora in the outskirts of the city, committed suicide by shooting himself with his service riffle yesterday, a police Spokesman said.

Police is investigating the case.

In a separate incident, body of one Jagmal Singh, a resident of Alwar district of Rajasthan, was found in a shop at Badamibagh Army Cantonment area here this morning, the Spokesman said.

Singh, 50, was working as a salesman in the shop where he was found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Police has registered a case and started inquest proceedings to ascertain the cause of his death.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out in the complex housing 143 battalion of BSF at Chowkibal in Kupwara district last night.

The fire broke out due to a short circuit, destroying the clothing store, guard room and office room of G-Branch of the unit.

No loss of life or injury to anyone was reported in the incident. (PTI)