M A I N   N E W S

Steps to arrest fiscal slowdown
Committee on Economic Strategies formed
R. Suryamurthy
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 4
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee tonight announced the setting up of a Cabinet Committee on Economic Strategies (CCES) and speedy measures to step up investments in the infrastructure sector to kick start the economy facing a slowdown.

Mr Vajpayee’s directive came tonight over a working dinner at his residence with his Cabinet colleagues with economic portfolios.

Concerned at the slowdown in the economy, the Prime Minister announced the setting up of a committee to provide stimulus to growth.

“The Prime Minister has also instructed the Cabinet Secretary to submit a report within 14 days regarding suggestions received from various ministries on accelerating completion of projects,” the Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Singh, told mediapersons after a four-hour meeting.

While the CCEA would be concerned with individual projects, the CCES would deal with economic strategies.

Mr Vajpayee stressed on speedier implementation of infrastructure projects during the current fiscal year for propping up demand as an effective antidote to the slowdown.

The meeting was attended by RBI Governor Bimal Jalan and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission K C Pant.

The Cabinet colleagues who attended the working dinner included Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, Home Minister L.K. Advani, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik, Power Minister Suresh Prabhu and Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh.

On labour reforms, Mr Vajpayee decided to constitute a group of ministers (GoM) to look into labour laws, as indicated in the Union Budget for 2001-02, for introduction of the same in the winter session of Parliament, Mr Sinha said.

The meeting identified the slowdown in industry and the agriculture and declining growth trend in the farm sector as major areas of concern, despite strong foreign exchange reserves, low inflation, good food reserves and a reasonable current account deficit.

The economic ministers were of the view that the slowdown in the economy, particularly in industry and infrastructure, was a result of subdued investment flow and the same could be checked by increasing public investment.

3 schoolchildren die in blast
Police stations attacked; priests’ killers shot
Tribune News Service and agencies

Baramula, September 4
At least three schoolchildren were killed and as many injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off near a school at Jamaipora, near here, this afternoon.

Official sources said the IED went off when children of Gousia Middle School, Jamiapora, about 2 km from here, were playing during lunch break. Three children died on the spot.

The injured have been admitted to hospital where the condition of two of them was stated to be critical.

Senior police and civil officials have rushed to the spot.

Meanwhile, a report from Jammu said at least nine hardcore militants were killed at separate places in Poonch district today.

According to Dr Kamal Saini, SP, Poonch, the security forces launched an operation at Sanjwali Dlok village in Surankot and killed five militants. Large quantities of arms and ammunition were recovered from their hideout. These militants are said to be responsible for killing two priests.

He said in another encounter at Saroti village in the Mandhar area, four militants were killed.

A report from Srinagar said five militants of various organisations surrendered before the Army and handed over their arms at Mansbal, in Baramula district today.

They belonged to the Hizbul-Mujahideen, Al-Fateh, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Tehreek-e-Jehadi Islami. The militants handed over their arms to the Army in the presence of mediapersons. Three militants belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen and Tehreek-e-Jehadi Islami were also produced before the media. They had been apprehended at Wangam and Dabran forests in this district during search operations recently.

Brig A. K. Singh of the KILO Force referred to various initiatives being undertaken by the Army to help the youths in carving out a bright future for themselves. Relatives of these militants and villagers were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, at least two persons, including a foreign militant, were killed in separate incidents while a Pakistan national was apprehended in the valley since yesterday. A police spokesman said three houses were damaged in intermittent shelling from across the border in Latoo and Kaksar villages near Kargil on Sunday. There were also reports of shelling in the Dras area of the district, the police said.

A foreign militant, Abu Zarar of Lashkar-e-Toiba, was killed in an encounter with the security forces at a camp in Kupwara. Two jawans were also injured in the encounter. The police said alert jawans foiled a Fidayeen (suicide) bid by the militant to enter the camp and shot him in retaliatory action. One AK rifle, three magazines, 60 rounds and two hand grenades were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Unidentified militants shot dead Riyaz Ahmad Kaul here yesterday, the police said.

A joint party of the police and security forces recovered two hand grenades, a rocket launcher booster, two 60 mm bombs and four rocket launchers from an orchard near Papchan village in the Bandipore area of Baramula district.

A Pakistani national was apprehended by the BSF while crossing the LoC near Sanmari village in the Karnah sector of Kupwara district yesterday. Identified as Sajad Hussain from Muzaffarabad in PoK, he has been handed over to the police.

Meanwhile, heavily-armed militants attacked the office of the SSP and other police stations in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu division last night without causing any damage to life and property, official sources said here today.

A group of militants fired grenades and resorted to heavy firing on the SSP’s office and the police station from a mountain peak in Poonch, the sources said.

The police retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for an hour. Later, the militants escaped, they said.

Musharraf to raise Kashmir issue at UN

Islamabad, September 4
Ignoring the understanding reached at the Agra summit, Pakistan has said President Pervez Musharraf will “certainly” raise the Kashmir issue in his Address to the UN General Assembly on September 24, a day before his second meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in New York.

Press secretary to General Musharraf and Pakistan’s defence spokesman, Major-Gen Rashid Qureshi, told the local news agency NNI here last night that the President would certainly raise the Kashmir and other issues of national and international importance in his Address to the General Assembly.

He also said besides meeting Mr Vajpayee, General Musharraf would hold talks with other world leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. PTI