NEW DELHI, Mar 5: Opposition parties are gearing up to corner the Government during Parliament’s Budget Session on a host of issues, including NCTC, and target the UPA for alleged trampling of federalism and Centre-State ties. An all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today saw Opposition leaders raising a variety of issues including repeated “attacks” by the Centre on the federal structure of the Constitution, demand for white paper on black money and violation of the Model Code by several Union Ministers.Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj complained about the short duration of the first phase of the Budget Session at a time when the Opposition has plans to raise several issues

JAMMU, Mar 5: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that enhancement of monthly wages of the Home Guards is under the consideration of the Government. “The Government vide order dated February 9, 2011 had enhanced the honorarium of volunteer Home Guards from ` 45 to ` 60 per person per day and further enhancement from ` 60 to ` 90 in the second phase is under the consideration of the Government”, he said in response to the question of BJP MLA, Ashok Khajuria

NEW DELHI, Mar 5: Strong tremors were felt in Delhi and parts of North India which were shaken by a moderate intensity quake this afternoon resulting in minor damages to some buildings. Tremors were also felt in different parts of the J&K State. The moderate intensity earthquake measuring 4.9 on Richter scale was recorded at both seismographic centers in Jammu and Srinagar respectively. According to Director, Meterological, Sonam Lotus “the tremors were felt at 13:12:03 (IST), one minute after the same were felt at Delhi at 13:11:03 (IST). However, there was no report of any damage

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 5: The Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC), scheduled to meet tomorrow to take up promotion cases of top police officers, has been deferred in view of investiture ceremony of President’s Police Medals at Raj Bhavan. The DPC comprising Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Home Secretary BR Sharma and Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda was scheduled to take promotion of police officers of the rank of IGPs, DIGs and SSPs

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 5: Several Opposition MLAs today put the Government in the dock over inordinate delay in the execution of road projects under Prime Minister’s Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGY) and demanded stern action against the delinquent officers. “It is pity that even one or two kilometer long roads have not been completed during the past four years”, Kathua MLA, Charanjit Singh said while pointing towards the written reply given by the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ali Mohd Sagar on behalf of the Minister Incharge Public Works Department, in response to his question.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 5: Accusing the State Government of being non-serious towards the vital power sector, main Opposition-People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today grilled Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora, who was replying to the queries on behalf of Minister Incharge Power, before staging walk-out. The grilling of Tourism Minister was started when he failed to give ‘satisfactory’ reply to the specific question of PDP MLA and former Minister, Abdul Gaffar Sofi during the Question Hour in the Lower House. “The Minister has talked about the entire country and the Central sector scheme–Re-structured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme but he could not give satisfactory reply to my very specific question about the improvement and upgradation of the HT/ LT network and construction of new sub-stations in Homeshali Bugh Constituency”, Mr Sofi remarked.

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Mar 5: Pandemonium gripped the Legislative Assembly during Zero Hour today with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLAs storming to the Well of the House for not being allowed to raise the issues concerning the common masses and members of other Opposition parties holding protest on different issues before staging walk-out. There was also a verbal spat between Speaker and PDP MLA Nizamuddin Bhat. As soon as Zero Hour began, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Nagrota, Jugal Kishore raised the issue of Custodian Department property and demanded that the occupants of the property must be given ownership rights.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 5: The Lower House of the State Legislature today witnessed clashes between arch political rivals-National Conference and People’s Democratic Party with both the parties trying to project themselves as sympathizers of Srinagar district. After heated arguments and clashes, all the PDP MLAs including former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig staged walk-out after accusing the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs and MLA from Khanyar, Ali Mohd Sagar of misleading the House. “Notwithstanding the long reply given by the Government, the fact is that the major initiatives, which were taken during the tenure of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for the development of Srinagar have not been carried forward by the present regime”, said PDP MLA, Abdul Rehman Veeri, who was seeking reply from the Government to the question of Mehbooba Mufti in her absence..

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 5: Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather today proposed exemption of various items including Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Valued Added Tax (VAT) and proposed tax extension on various other items like flour, paddy and fertilizers etc while going ahead with tax concessions to industry, hotels and tourism sectors for one more financial year (FY) i.e. up to March 31, 2013. Presenting general budget for financial year of 2012-13, which would come into force from April 1 this year when approved by both Houses of Legislature, Mr Rather announced increase in VAT on products of tobacco consumption from 25 per cent to 30 per cent, Sales Tax tag on liquor from 25 per cent to 30 per cent and brought security and placement services, pandal and shamiana services and annual maintenance contracts under the ambit of tax net. He proposed increase in the existing rate of toll. The Finance Minister proposed increase in the honorarium of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers from ` 1500 per month to uniform level of ` 3000 per month and hiked remuneration of Nambardars and Chowkidars from ` 501 and 500 per month to ` 751 and ` 700 per month respectively.