M A I N   N E W S

Hike in farm input tax goes
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 27 — Providing much-needed relief to the farming community, Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today announced withdrawal of a hike in sales tax proposed in the budget on certain agricultural inputs.

Making a suo motu statement in the state assembly in this regard, Mr Dhumal said that he had taken the decision after meeting a cross-section of the people and organisations over the past ten days. He said although the proposal to increase the sales tax on these items was part of the national policy of rationalisation and uniform taxation, the state government decided to review it keeping in view the problems of small and marginal farmers and fruit growers.

While cattle and poultry feed, chemical fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, raw wool and agricultural implements have been completely exempted from sales tax, the rate of sale tax on diesel, which was proposed to be increased from 8 to 12 per cent, has been reduced to ten per cent.

Mr Dhumal said the government would have liked to further reduce the tax burden on the people but was constrained by the state’s tight financial position.

Earlier, the Congress staged a walkout in protest after the Speaker, Mr Gulab Singh, did not allow Mr Ram Lal to bring an adjournment motion on the recent hike in prices of petroleum products. Mr Virbhadra Singh, the leader of the Opposition who led the walkout, said Mr Kaul Singh’s notice for a call attention motion had also not be accepted. He said it was an important issue which affected the poor people of the state.

However, Mr Gulab Singh, ruled that the matter concerned the Central Government and no discussion could be allowed on it in the house. The Congress members, returned to the house soon afterwards and participated in the proceedings for the rest of the day.

The house expressed anguish over the brutal massacre of 35 Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora village of Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir. Making a suo motu statement Mr Dhumal said the dastardly and cold-blooded act, which had been committed with the intention of fomenting communal violence.

Conveying his sympathies to the bereaved families, Mr Dhumal complimented the security forces for killing some of those responsible for the massacre.

Mr Virbhadra Singh termed it as a well planned conspiracy and urged the government to take stringent measures to prevent such incidents. He said the need of the hour was to maintain communal harmony.Mr J.B.L. Khachi, a senior Congress leader, decried the attempts of certain leaders of Punjab to blame the Army for the killings.