The Tribune...Jammu and Kashmir

J A M M U C& CK A S H M I R

Sunday, July 5, 1998

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J&K to press for
waiving loan
JAMMU, July 4 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who left for Delhi this afternoon has decided to press for waiving of Rs 1275 crore Central loan as the state government was neither in a position to repay the loan nor could afford to reimburse the interest on it...

Security steps for yatra reviewed
JAMMU, July 4 — A civil-military conference to review the prevailing conditions in the Jammu sector and the arrangements for Amarnath yatra ...

Sikhs getting 'stepmotherly' treatment
JAMMU, July 4 — The District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (GPC) has expressed concern over what it calls stepmotherly treatment being meted out to the Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir....

J&K to press for waiving loan
Tribune News Service
JAMMU, July 4 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who left for Delhi this afternoon has decided to press for waiving of Rs 1275 crore Central loan as the state government was neither in a position to repay the loan even in instalments nor could afford to reimburse the interest on it.
During his stay in Delhi, he will meet the Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr Jaswant Singh, and the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani. The state government had repeatedly requested the Centre to waive the loan as had been done in the case of Punjab because servicing of the loan would cause a cash crunch.
The state government has already conveyed to the Centre that the annual Plan size should be increased by at least 20 per cent as compared to last year's Plan allocations following a sharp rise in the wages after the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations and following recuritment of about 30,000 persons in the civil services and police during the past two years.

The Chief Minister had expected the Centre, especially the Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, to announce some economic package for the people of the state late last month but Mr Sinha had turned down the invitation of Dr Abdullah to visit Srinagar along with the high-level Central team led by Mr Advani. This had hurt the feelings of the Chief Minister who had felt betrayed by the BJP despite the fact that his issue-based support to it had cost him dearly in the Kashmir valley.

Reports said the Chief Minister had received reports he need not worry as the Centre would reimburse the Rs 700 crore which the state government had spent on security related matters during the past seven years. It had also been agreed to allocate additional funds for Jammu and Kashmir but the state government had been asked to ensure the funds were properly utilised. The Centre government may constitute a cell which will monitor the utilisation of funds in the state following the receipt of reports that a big chunk of the Central funds had been misappropriated which had been one of the factors for the current cash crunch.
Informed sources said during his meeting with the Union Home Minister the Chief Minister would renew his demand for the deployment of additional companies of paramilitary forces for Jammu and Kashmir. Dr Abdullah had discussed the issue with Mr Advani when he had visited Srinagar last month but the discussion remained inconclusive as the Union Home Minister was not prepared to make any firm commitment about sending more than two battalions of the BSF and the CRPF to the state.
Dr Abdullah will seek sanction from the Union Home Ministry for raising five more battalions of the state police for which he needs additional funds. Reports indicate the Centre will like to keep the Chief Minister in good humours as his support is needed at this crucial juncture even though there is no immediate threat to the BJP-led government.

Sikhs getting 'stepmotherly' treatment
Tribune News Service
JAMMU, July 4 — The District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (GPC) has expressed concern over what it calls stepmotherly treatment being meted out to the Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir. It has urged the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, to review the situation regarding the "raw deal" given to the community in envery sphere of activity.
President of the GPC, Mr Surinder Singh, told newsmen here today that in the 16-month-old 30 -member Council of Ministers, headed by Dr Abdulldah, there was not a single representative of the Sikh community. The Council of Ministers had representatives from almost every community and ethnic groups except the Sikhs and right from October, 1996, when Dr Abdullah constituted the Cabinet "we have been clamouring over non-representation in the ministry" but there has been no response.

Mr Surinder Singh said as per the population percentage and on the basis of availability of qualified Sikh youths "we have a very poor share in government services." In the recent recruitment drive in the civil services, the police and in other public sector undertakings the Sikhs were given a raw deal he alleged. The State Subordinate Service Selection Board had no Sikh member and the result was that the claim of Sikhs for a better share in the government services was being ignored.
The GPC president expressed dismay over meagre relief the victims of 1984 riots in Jammu had received so far. Kins of the victims and those who had lost their property had received only Rs 25,000 when in other states the cash relief was much higher. He appealed to the Chief Minister to consider the genuine demands of the community.
The GPC also felt bitter over lack of encouragement to Punjabi language in the state.
It called upon the Chief Minister to direct the police to stop interfering in the religious affairs of Sikhs in the state. He was referring to recent arrests of some Sikh youths to prevent them from performing their religious duties. Certain Sikh youths belonging to the Simbal camp had been taken into custody and one youth had attempted suicide out of frustration over police action.

Security steps for yatra reviewed
From Our Correspondent
JAMMU, July 4 — A civil-military conference to review the prevailing conditions in the Jammu sector and the security arrangements for Amarnath yatra was held at the Tiger Division headquarters here, today.
The conference also dwelt on other subjects like measures to counter the flood threats in case of heavy downpour on the upper reaches.
It deliberated on ways to check the activities of militants and anti-social elements and emphasised on more coordination among the security forces. Other issues like active vigilance on the border were also discussed.
Major-General Bhopinder Singh, General Officer Commanding of the Tiger Division, who chaired the conference, assured the participants of all assistance from the Army to the civil authorities and asked for more coordination and liaison among the civil administration and the Army.
The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr B.S. Jaswal sought assistance from the Army to guard certain areas to avoid militants threat to pilgrims proceeding on Amarnath yatra.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kuldeep Khuda, disclosed various check points established by the police for the safe conduct of the yatra.
The Inspector-General BSF, Mr Ashok Sethi, told that the BSF had taken suitable measure to check infiltration from across the border.