J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K Budget session to begin today
SRINAGAR, Feb 22 — The Budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will begin in Jammu tomorrow with the Governor's address to the members of both the Legislative Assembly and the Council.

European team visits valley
SRINAGAR, Feb 22 — A high level European delegation arrived here today to make an on-the-spot study of the prevailing situation in the Kashmir valley.

J&K Budget session to begin today
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Feb 22 — The Budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will begin in Jammu tomorrow with the Governor's address to the members of both the Legislative Assembly and the Council.

The session, spread over 32 working days till April 8, will include the tabling of the state Budget on March 6. Some of the working days will have two sessions to include a maximum number of the questions raised by the members in both Houses of the state legislature, sources in the secretariat said.

In accordance with the practice, the Governor's address would be tabled at the joint sitting of the members of the two Houses. There will also be obituary references to former President of India Shankar Dayal Sharma, who had passed away in December, 1999, and former Chairman of the State Legislative Council H.S. Bali, who passed away in Delhi on February 18. No other legislative business will be taken up tomorrow on the opening day of the Budget session.

The last Assembly session was held here in October last year, before the Civil Secretariat and other state government offices were closed for the bi-annual shift to Jammu.

The forthcoming Budget session is going to be hectic with the tabling of the annual Budget for the year 2000-2001. The state is facing financial crisis and has urged the Centre for more help. There are indications that this year there will be harsh Budget.

The Finance Minister, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, hald discussions with traders here recently to get a feedback on the Budget proposals.

European team visits valley

SRINAGAR, Feb 22 (UNI) — A high level European delegation arrived here today to make an on-the-spot study of the prevailing situation in the Kashmir valley.

The delegation consisting of three USA lawmakers and eight British paliamentarians during their one-day stay here met senior civil and police officials besides some ministers.

The delegation was briefed about the overall situation in the valley by the officials.

However, the All-Party Kashmir Hurriyat Conference and other separatists leaders were not invited by delegation members.

The delegation will leave for Jammu this afternoon where they are scheduled to meet Governor G.C. Sexana and Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.