3 militants among five killed
SRINAGAR, March 9 — Five persons including three militants, have been killed while the security forces have arrested four ultras in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Protesters teargassed in J&K
SRINAGAR, March 9 — Clashes between the police and protesters at several places in the Kashmir valley marred the second day of the general strike called by traders in protest against the "anti-people" budget of the state government.

Shafi justifies fresh taxes
JAMMU, March 9 — Despite the bandh in Jammu and Kashmir in protest against the imposition of heavy taxes in the Budget proposals for 1999-2000, the Finance Minister, Mr Mohd Shafi today struck to his earlier stand in the Assembly that since the Centre had not fulfilled its commitment regarding additional financial assistance, "we had no alternative but to impose taxes."

Withdraw Budget proposals: BJP
JAMMU, March 9 — The BJP state unit President Mr Daya Krishan Kotwal, said that the party would be forced to launch a statewide agitation if the government do not withdraw the Budget proposals.

3 militants among five killed

SRINAGAR, March 9 (PTI) — Five persons including three militants, have been killed while the security forces have arrested four ultras in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

An official spokesman said the body of a youth, Nissar Ahmad Sofi, was recovered from the Chatabal area in Srinagar early this morning. Nissar was reportedly killed by militants.

Three militants were killed in a clash with security forces at Daralipana village in the Kotian-Surankote area of Poonch last night.

Militants shot dead a security jawan at Agmona in Kunzar area of Baramula district yesterday.

Two militants were arrested by the security forces from Behama in Ganderbal and Prechoo in Pulwama along with two grenades and some ammunition last evening.

Two militants were arrested from Darhal and Kalakote in Rajouri district. An AK assault rifle, its magazine and two hand grenades were seized from their possession.

Security forces also recovered an AK assault rifle, its magazine and 15 rounds of ammunition from a militant hideout at Chermunji in Kupwara yesterday.

JAMMU: Three militants have been killed by security forces in Rajouri, while ultras shot dead a civilian in Poonch.

Troops trapped and killed three Hizbul mujahideen militants at their hideout in Kothain village of Rajouri district's Kalakote area yesterday.

Reports from Poonch said militants shot dead a civilian Ghulam Hassan, at his house in Kaya village.

Protesters teargassed in J&K
Tribune News Service and PTI

SRINAGAR, March 9 — Clashes between the police and protesters at several places in the Kashmir valley marred the second day of the general strike called by traders in protest against the "anti-people" budget of the state government.

The clashes occurred today when the police attempted to foil the demonstrators’ bid to take out processions at Maisuma, Madina Chowk, Batmaloo, Saidakadal, Khanyar, Qammerwari and Nowhatta in Srinagar and Wathoora in Badgam, officials said.

The police assisted by paramilitary forces used lathis and fired teargas shells at several places to chase away the stone-pelting demonstrators. However, there was no casualty.

The Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation and Kashmir Passenger Transporters Welfare Association sponsored strike was total as streets wore a deserted look and shops remained closed, banks, courts, educational institutions and other establishments remained closed and attendance in government offices was thin.

The Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation which ended the two-day stir urged the state government to revise the budgetary proposals. "In case the proposed hike in sales tax and other taxes are not revised, we will charge sales taxes at old rates only with effect from April 1, 1999", a spokesman for the federation stated at a press conference in the afternoon. The federation leaders who were present urged people not to pay hiked power tariff and water taxes.

The federation president, Ghulam Nabi Shah, said people in the valley were already faced with acute financial constraints as the government had failed to distribute salaries to the employees in time. He said, there was a need to give relief to the people in the valley, but instead the government wanted to put additional burden on them. He said the federation had already submitted a memorandum to the state government to rationalise power tariff, sales tax but there was no response from the government.

A four-page statement of the federation said the hike in sales taxes would encourage corruption and lesser sales taxes rates in neighbouring states would pave the way for illegal import of goods in the state. "That would further deteriorate economic condition", the statement said. Referring to the hike in passenger tax, the statement said it would affect people from all walks of life, while the transport industry was already faced with a loss of more than Rs 400 crore.

JAMMU: Life in several parts of the Jammu region was affected on Tuesday following a bandh called by the state BJP unit in protest against new taxes in the Budget proposals presented in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

Shops and market complexes in most parts of Jammu city remained closed following the call, supported by the Chamber of Commerce, official sources said.

Barring government vehicles, traffic was thin in the city affecting attendance in educational institutions, government offices and banks, they said.

The bandh was by and large peaceful barring stray incidents of stone pelting reported from the city, a police spokesman said, adding a Tehsildar’s jeep was also burnt by protesters in the city.

Reports from Kathua and Udhampur said a partial bandh was observed, but inter-district traffic plied as usual.

Shafi justifies fresh taxes
From M. L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 9 — Despite the bandh in Jammu and Kashmir in protest against the imposition of heavy taxes in the Budget proposals for 1999-2000, the Finance Minister, Mr Mohd Shafi today struck to his earlier stand in the Assembly that since the Centre had not fulfilled its commitment regarding additional financial assistance, "we had no alternative but to impose taxes."

Winding up the general discussion on the Budget proposals in the Assembly here today, the Finance Minister said the uproar over the tax proposals was uncalled for because the fresh taxes would yield only Rs 91 crore. The amount of Rs 565 crore estimated to be generated through additional resource mobilisation was through a cess on power generation and a 10 per cent cut on government expenses.

When the members pressed for some concessions, Mr Shafi hinted that he would consider their suggestions when the Finance Bill came up for discussion and adoption.

The Finance Minister said so far the Centre had not cleared the Plan allocations for states, including Jammu and Kashmir, and as such the Budget estimates had been prepared on assumption. He said had the Centre fulfilled its commitment of reimbursing security-related expenses, the amount by now having crossed Rs 700 crore, the financial position would not have been as grim as at present. The Centre had failed to compensate for the losses the state had suffered owing to the Indus water treaty in 1960 under which Jammu and Kashmir was not in a position to utilise all river waters for power generation.

He said the Centre had turned down the demand of the state government for giving retrospective effect to the central Plan assistance from 1969- 70. Had it accepted "our plea", the state would have not to spend Rs 600 crore per year on servicing the Rs 1275 central loan. During the ensuing financial year, the total debt service burden was estimated to touch Rs 965.02 crore, the minister informed.

The state was how in a debt trap. The indebtedness of the state as at the end of March, 1998, was Rs 7798.68 crore on account of central loans, Rs 3231.09 crore on provident fund and Rs 2971.41 crore on Insurance. Market borrowings and other loans accounted for Rs 651.26 crore and bank overdraft Rs 944.92 crore. In view of this grim fiscal picture, it was not in the interests of the government to withdraw the additional taxes.

The BJP members, Mr Hans Raj Dogra and Mr Bali Bhagat, disputed the claim of the Finance Minister that the Centre had not released adequate funds to the state. They gave figures and said the BJP-led government at the Centre had been liberal.

The problem, they alleged, was the result of reckless spending by the government. Other Opposition members wanted the government to further reduce the expenses on telephones and petrol and other perks enjoyed by the Chief Minister, his ministerial colleagues and senior bureaucrats.

Mr Shafi explained that the tax proposals had no direct bearing on the common man. He said an attempt had been made to force the rich to pay more by way of taxes. However, the BJP and the Congress members staged a walkout in protest against the Finance Minister's refusal to review the tax proposals.

The CPM member, Mr M.Y. Tarigami, said in a statement that the speech of the Finance Minister was "disappointing" because he had not given any cognisance to the suggestions made by several members belonging to the Opposition and the ruling party. He said there was still time for the Finance Minister to announce tax relief.

Intervening during question hour, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, said the state government would set up a commission headed by a retired High Court judge to examine all complaints regarding issuance of state subject certificates to non-state subjects.

The commission would submit its report to the government within six months which would be tabled in the Assembly.

Earlier, replying to a question by Sheikh Abdul Rehman of the BSP, the Revenue Minister, Mr Ali Mohd Naik, said there were complaints that permanent resident certificates had been issued in favour of non-state subjects.

He said these complaints were being examined by the competent authority and action would be taken against those holding fake certificates and against those who had issued the certificates.

The government admitted in the House that owing to paucity of funds, it had no plans to increase the activities connected with providing relief to those affected by draught in Doda district.

The minister said 5 kg of ration free of cost was being given to those who had suffered 50 to 75 per cent loss of crops. Where the loss was more than 75 per cent, free ration was being given for three months.

J&K to recruit ad hoc teachers
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, March 9 — The state Cabinet has decided appointment of teachers in the far-flung areas on an ad hoc basis.

This was stated by the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, in the Legislative Assembly when his attention was drawn by a member towards the commitment made by him in this regard in the House yesterday. The Chief Minister, however, asked the members to provide him a list of such schools in their respective constituencies which were not functioning because of the unavailability of teachers.

He said the information provided to him by officials and members of the House did not match and as such he wanted to know the facts to ensure that these schools became functional within a month.

The Chief Minister said as per the list made available to him by officials, "the number of vacancies of teachers in Jammu district was 400, in Kathua district 288, in Udhampur 293, in Doda 273, in Rajouri 275, in Budgam 80, in Kupwara 78, in Baramulla 313, in Anantnag 13, in Pulwama 61, and in Srinagar 90. All these posts had been referred to the SSRB. Similarly, the number of schools shown as closed for want of teachers was 23 in Jammu, 32 in Doda, 22 in Kathua and nil in Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri district.

The Chief Minister said the system of obtaining antecedent certificates for newly recruited candidates from various security agencies had been dispensed with as this process was time consuming. Now the Deputy Commissioners and SSPs had been authorised to issue such certificates within three weeks, he added.

Withdraw Budget proposals: BJP
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, March 9 — The BJP state unit President Mr Daya Krishan Kotwal, said that the party would be forced to launch a statewide agitation if the government do not withdraw the Budget proposals.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Kotwal said the BJP-sponsored bandh passed off peacefully today and the support shown by the people depicted that they did not accept the Budget proposals.

In protest against the Budget proposals, the BJP opposition staged a walkout in the assembly today.

According the National Conference government the present state of financial crisis, he said. "Millions of rupees, are also being spent on the cavalcades of the ministers,".

He alleged that the NC ministers were filling their coffers while ordinary people were being burdened with heavy taxes.