Budget proposals ‘anti-people’
SRINAGAR, March 7 — The Budget presented by Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday has evoked widespread resentment in the Kashmir valley.

NC plea to Centre on fiscal crisis
JAMMU, March 7 — The National Conference which has three members in the Lok Sabha, has no plans of withdrawing support to the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Mufti assails J-K Budget
SRINAGAR, March 7 — Senior Congress Leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (MP) today criticised the Jammu and Kashmir state Budget saying there appeared a "nexus" between ruling National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to "undermine the self-respect of the people of Kashmir".

Militant, 2 others killed in valley
SRINAGAR, March 7 — Three persons, including a militant and a counter-insurgent, were killed and arms and explosives recovered in different incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said here today.

Paharis must get ST status: CM
JAMMU, March 7 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has said he will take up the issue of according Scheduled Tribes status to pahari people in the state with the Centre soon.

Common schedule for admission
SRINAGAR, March 7 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has drawn up a common schedule for admission to colleges in Kashmir division.

Budget proposals ‘anti-people’
Traders, employees call for strike
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, March 7 — The Budget presented by Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday has evoked widespread resentment in the Kashmir valley. Various traders, transporters and employees’ associations have called for a general strike in the valley on Monday and Tuesday in protest against the budgetary proposals.

Describing the Budget as "anti-people", the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Association had called for a general strike in the valley on Monday. It has been endorsed by the Kashmir Passenger Transport Welfare Association which has also called of a two-day "wheel-jam" in the valley on Monday and Tuesday in protest against the budget estimates for 1999-2000. The federation has appealed to the government and public sector employees to observe a "complete" strike against the dictatorial policies of the government.

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has opined that the budgetary proposals will shatter the economy of the state, and that the worst sufferers will be the people belonging to middle and low income groups. It believed that the hiked tax rate of Rs 300 on outside passenger vehicles will adversely affect the tourist inflow in the valley.

The Traders Federation has also extended support to the two-day strike call by the Kashmir Passenger Transport Welfare Association (KPTWA). It has appealed the business community to observe complete bandh on Monday and Tuesday in protest against the Budget proposals. The High Court Bar Association and various other unions of the state government employees have also expressed concern over the hike in taxes as proposed by the Finance Minister.

Various associations of the state government employees too have extended their support to the traders and transporters associations’ for the two-day general strike. These associations have urged the state government employees to extend full support to the traders federations and transport associations. The State Employees Conference while expressing resentment over the government decision to impound DA arrears of the employees has asked them to abstain from their duties on Monday and Tuesday. It has described the proposals made in the next year’s Budget as "anti-people and anti-employees". The Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees Conference has also expressed concern over the Budget proposals and asked its members to extend full support to the traders and transporters associations.

An emergency meeting was convened by the Divisional Commissioner here yesterday, who asked the heads of department to take adequate measures in view of the general strike for the next two days. The Divisional Commissioner, Mr Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, instructed the officers to ensure full attendance of the employees and ensure the maintenance of essential services and supplies. He warned that stern action would be taken against the erring officers and employees.

The opposition parties have also expressed concern over the state budget, with the Congress extending full support to the traders and transporters associations to register its protest against the Budget proposals.

The Awami National Conference of former Chief Minister, Ghulam Mohammad Shah has also described the Budget proposals as "anti-people and intolerable".

According to a vernacular news agency here, the separatist leader, Naeem Ahmad Khan, formerly a close associate of Shabir Ahmad Shah has opposed the proposed tax hike. Mr Khan described the proposed Budget "a conspiracy to deprive the people of their basic rights". He said by resorting to economic deprivation, the government wanted to break the political will of Kashmiris. He justified the strike called by different associations.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and MP, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Sunday appealed the Jammu and Kashmir Government to revise the budgetary proposals for lessening extra ordinary burden on the poor of the "economically distressed" state.

"We appeal the state government to revise these decisions", Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said while addressing a press conference. He held that there was "a nexus between the BJP government at the Centre and the NC government in Jammu and Kashmir". The Mufti added that the state government "has not been able to represent its case to the Centre" to overcome the financial constraints faced by the state in view of the increase in security related expenditures.

The Mufti extended full support to the general strike called by various associations of traders, transporters and other organisations.

NC plea to Centre on fiscal crisis
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 7 — The National Conference which has three members in the Lok Sabha, has no plans of withdrawing support to the BJP-led government at the Centre. The National Conference leadership is perturbed over the way the Centre did not fulfil its commitment of providing financial assistance to Jammu and Kashmir but at the same time it would promote cordial relations with the Centre.

Though the issue of continued support to the central government did not figure at the working committee meeting here last evening, the National Conference leadership is not prepared to risk the interests of the state by entering into a confrontation with the Union Government.

Briefing newspersons here today after the meeting, the Minister for Roads and Bridges, Mr Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah said Jammu and Kashmir deserved better treatment because its entire economy had been shattered by 10-year-long militancy. He appealed to the Centre to help the state in coming out of the existing financial crisis.

The working committee of the National Conference adopted a resolution welcoming Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's bus journey to Lahore. Mr Shah said this journey would help in the restoration of peace and normalcy between the two countries. He said through prolonged negotiations and dialogue between the two sides New Delhi and Islamabad would be able to promote friendship and cordial relations which were needed for ensuring peace in the region.

Referring to the state Autonomy Committee report, Mr Shah said the working committee endorsed the government's plan of circulating the report after it was tabled in the state Assembly to political parties, people and panchayats to evolve a consensus on it. A similar yardstick would be applied to the regional autonomy issue.

The working committee also appreciated the government's decision to hold panchayat elections in May. It said it was laudable on the past of the state government to revive and strengthen all democratic institutions in the state which had been paralysed owing to militancy.

The Finance Minister, Mr Mohd Shafi, explained that in his Budget proposals he had not decided to levy taxes to the tune of Rs 565 crore. He said fresh taxes were expected to yield Rs 150 crore and the remaining amount of Rs 415 crore was to be generated by improving tax collection and recovering tax arrears, including power tariff.

Sheikh Nazir Ahmed said the working committee also decided to initiate measures to improve interaction between party leaders and the people. He said the party functionaries, including the ministers, had been directed to hold regular interaction with the people for the purpose of redressing their grievances.

Mufti assails J-K Budget

SRINAGAR, March 7 (PTI) — Senior Congress Leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (MP) today criticised the Jammu and Kashmir state Budget saying there appeared a "nexus" between ruling National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to "undermine the self-respect of the people of Kashmir".

"It is the result of the nexus between the NC and the BJP that "draconian" measures were recommended in Jammu and Kashmir budget," Sayeed told reporters here today.

Claiming that not a single item was spared from taxes in the budget presented in the Assembly on Thursday, he said "it is a clear case of vendetta against the people of Kashmir".

He said his party would support all efforts to force the government to withdraw the proposed taxes which "will make the lives of the common people more miserable".

Terming the budget as "anti-people", he said the Congress would support the two-day strike call given by traders, transporters and government employees, beginning tomorrow.

The Centre has already hiked the prices of diesel, LPG and food items being distributed through public distribution system and the state government had compounded the problems of the people by levying taxes on all essential commodities in the state, Mufti said.

The senior Congress leader said 10 years of militancy had left the people of Kashmir in economic distress, and the new "oppressive taxes would break their back".

Citing the example of horticulture, the biggest industry in the state, Sayeed said instead of subsidising fertiliser and other inputs in fruit cultivation, the government had burdened the growers with an increase in toll tax.

He accused the state government of using coercive methods to recover electricity dues from the poor and charged that the "influential people", against whom crores of rupees in sales tax was outstanding, are not being touched.

The government should reduce its unnecessary expenditure instead of taxing the poor, Sayeed said.

Hectic lobbying for 6 J-K LC seats
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 7 — Political activists and former bureaucrats have started lobbying for berths in the Legislative Council where six seats will fall vacant within one week.

Though the issue is to be debated by the members of the ruling National Conference Working Committee. Selection for the seats has to be decided by party president, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and the general secretary, Sheikh Nazir Ahmed.

Since the National Conference has two-thirds majority in the state assembly all six candidates it will field are expected to get elected to the Upper House. For the six seats there are more than 20 aspirants including Mr R.S. Chib, Mr Janak Raj Gupta, Mr Rangil Singh, Mr Abdul Rashid Shaheen, all former ministers who joined the National Conference in the last one year. Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, a former Chief Secretary Mr M Y Teng, a former member of the Public Service Commission, Mr Satish Raina, a former Chairman State Subordinate Services Recruitment Board, Mr J N Bakshi, a former Chief Engineer, Mr Chander Dhar, a businessman, Mr Bushan Lal Bhat are trying to be fielded again by the National Conference.

Informed sources said that several senior ministers are in favour of Mr Bushan Lal Bhat to get re-elected to the council as during the past two years he has done a good job in wooing a section of Pandits towards the National Conference.

Left to the Chief Minister he would prefer Mr Satish Raina. However, party managers want the National Conference to field Mr Bhat.

Reports said that the Chief Minister is also in favour of Mr Teng to get elected to the Upper House. Mr Teng had been the National Conference candidate from Anantnag Lok Sabha Constituency. But has lost the poll. He had before contesting the poll resigned from the membership of the Public Service Commission on the direction of the Chief Minister hence Dr Abdullah would want him to get a seat in the Upper House.

In the meantime, the state government has submitted another reply to queries raised by the Union Home Ministry regarding the demand for adding eight more seats to the Legislative Council after 11 seats were increased in state Assembly under the fresh delimitation of the constituencies. The state government has sent the Bill adopted by the state legislature to the President of India for approval so that eight more seats were added to the Upper House.

Militant, 2 others killed in valley

SRINAGAR, March 7 (PTI) — Three persons, including a militant and a counter-insurgent, were killed and arms and explosives recovered in different incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said here today.

An unidentified militant was killed when security forces returned fire after their patrol was attacked by militants at Barodi Gujran village in Darhal area of Rajouri today, the spokesman said.

The encounter was still in progress when last reports were received and further details were awaited, he said.

Militants shot dead one Ghulam Hassan at Kaya village in the border district of Poonch today. Hassan was killed on the suspicion of being an informer for security forces, he said.

Militants also gunned down a counter-insurgent Abdul Ahad Sheikh at Shalabugh in Ganderbal area on the outskirts of Srinagar yesterday. Sheikh, a resident of Gadoora was kidnapped and later killed, the spokesman said.

In another incident, militants lobbed a grenade at the house of Shakeel Ahmad at Lal Bazaar in Srinagar last evening. The grenade exploded in the compound, causing damage to window panes and a parked scooter, he said, adding no one was hurt.

Security forces seized an improvised explosive device fitted with a time device, 260 gm of explosives, two AK magazines and 47 "rounds of ammunition during search operations at Tulbal-Sopore in Baramula district yesterday, he said.

The Special Operations Group of the local police also picked up three suspects for questioning, he added.

Paharis must get ST status: CM

JAMMU, March 7 (PTI) — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has said he will take up the issue of according Scheduled Tribes (ST) status to pahari people in the state with the Centre soon.

"Grant of ST status to people living in pahari areas of the state, irrespective of their religion, is imperative for their upliftment", the Chief Minister said while addressing representatives of people from Marwah, Wadhwan, Danchin, Thatri and Paddar here last evening.

The report of a regional autonomy panel would consider measures to be taken for the development of the state, particularly its backward pockets.

The Chief Minister said he would take up with the Centre the matter of construction of the Marwah-Dachin road via Margan Top.

Dr Abdullah said the government was aware of the unemployment problem in the pahari areas and gave an assurance that the Director-General of Police would be deputed to the Marwah-Wadhwan area to recruit local people in force.

Common schedule for admission

SRINAGAR, March 7 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has drawn up a common schedule for admission to colleges in Kashmir division.

A spokesman for the Higher Education Department said here today that the decision to have a common schedule was aimed at giving equal opportunity to all students seeking admission on the basis of merit.

He said earlier there was "unrestrained admission" to degree colleges in the state. As a result, colleges particularly in cities, were "bursting at the seams". The facilities had not been growing with the increase in the number of students.

The decision had been welcomed by parents and students, he said and added that in order to be fair to students from remote and backward areas, where teaching facilities were inadequate, the minimum eligibility condition for admission to the science stream had been relaxed.