J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Steps afoot to realise sales tax arrears
JAMMU, March 14 — The state Government has decided to launch a vigorous campaign for realisation of sales tax arrears which have touched a record figure of Rs 466 crore. But before launching the drive a reconciliation fortnight would be started from April 1, 2000 to allow opportunity to the traders and others to pay up the arrears.

Hartal hits transport in Jammu area
JAMMU, March 14 — Transport services were hit on Jammu-Rajouri and Jammu-Poonch routes following a hartal at Sunderbani. The call for hartal had been given by the BJP today. Curfew restrictions, imposed in Rajouri on March 11 were relaxed only for two hours.

JUTA to boycott exams
JAMMU, March 14 — The Jammu University Teachers Association (JUTA) has decided to boycott teaching and examination work, including moderation and evaluation, from March 15 in protest against the delay in the release of grade revision arrears since January 1, 1996.

Steps afoot to realise sales tax arrears
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 14 — The state Government has decided to launch a vigorous campaign for realisation of sales tax arrears which have touched a record figure of Rs 466 crore. But before launching the drive a reconciliation fortnight would be started from April 1, 2000 to allow opportunity to the traders and others to pay up the arrears.

This was stated by the Finance Minister, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, while replying to the demands for grants for his ministry in the state Assembly here today.

Mr Rather said as a result of effective drive against recovery of sales tax and excise the state had reached a position in which the Government had been able to recover Rs 260 crore as sales tax during the current financial year against Rs 120 crore in 1996. He added that the excise revenue had increased from Rs 143 crore in 1996-97 to Rs 261 crore during the current financial year.

The Finance Minister while explaining the reasons for the ongoing cash crunch in the state said that major portion of the annual budget was being spent on meeting the cost of the wage bill. He said that the annual wage bill of the employees in 1996 was Rs 1300 crore which, after the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission report, had touched over Rs 25,000 crore. In addition to this delay on the part of the Centre to reimburse in full the security related expenses had forced the state Government to seek overdrafts from Jammu and Kashmir Bank. He said so far the security related expenses incurred by the state had touched Rs 1129 crore.

He said that he would take firm steps in recovering tax arrears and even if the state achieved 100 per cent success still it would not be free of financial crunch. He reiterated his demand to the Centre to waive Rs 1275 crore loan so that the State had not to pay Rs 600 crore as annual interest on this Central loan.

The state, he added, needed a special economic package from the Centre as several hundred crores of rupees were needed for rebuilding the infrastructure damaged by the militants, several opposition members were critical of the failure of the state administration in observing austerity measures. Later the demands were passed.

During question hour replies from the ministers revealed that the state Government admitted that militancy-related violence had increased in Jammu and Kashmir which had affected the pace of development of roads and in making educational institutions functional.

Several Opposition members staged a walkout when they expressed dissatisfaction over the reply to their supplementaries on the impact of employees' strike on development works.

Before the start of question hour several Opposition members were seen on their feet protesting against yesterday's statement of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, in which he had stated that his ministers and officers were free to tour different areas to meet people. The Opposition members said that officers should not be made party to a political conference of the ruling party.

Hartal hits transport in Jammu area
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 14 — Transport services were hit on Jammu-Rajouri and Jammu-Poonch routes following a hartal at Sunderbani. The call for hartal had been given by the BJP today. Curfew restrictions, imposed in Rajouri on March 11 were relaxed only for two hours.

During the curfew relaxation hours activists of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha took out a procession demanding arrest of those who had attacked members of the minority community.

It was on the demand of the Sabha that eight persons including four from minority community, were released but the Sabha has conveyed to the District authorities that talks could be held with the government only after the criminals were arrested. The police has sought time on the plea that the criminals had gone underground.

Official sources said no major incident of violence took place in Rajouri during the curfew relaxation hours. However, in Sunderbani Nowshera areas buses were stoned by the protesters. Demanding security for the minority community.

In the State Assembly today the Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, made a statement on the Rajouri incident. He said that members of the minority community had taken a procession on March 11 and raised anti-government slogans. Some of them staged a dharna protesting against the manhandling of some youths belonging to the community during college union elections. He said that while the procession was yet to disperse, another procession by youths belonging to the majority community was taken out.

The processionists marched to the tehsil office and the police intervened to prevent the two groups from clashing with one another. When stones were pelted at the police, the latter resorted to lathi charge. Several warning shots were fired in the air to disperse the demonstrators. He said that eight youths had been arrested. The Army was called out and later withdrawn.

JUTA to boycott exams
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 14 — The Jammu University Teachers Association (JUTA) has decided to boycott teaching and examination work, including moderation and evaluation, from March 15 in protest against the delay in the release of grade revision arrears since January 1, 1996.

This decision was contained in a resolution adopted at a meeting of the general body of the JUTA here today. The resolution also requested the Vice-Chancellor to use his good offices to persuade the state government to release the arrears before it would affect the teaching and examination schedule.

The meeting adopted other resolutions urging the university authorities to hold interview for the posts advertised and advertise about other posts which had been lying vacant for a long time. The resolution also demanded reemployment of teachers after their retirement as per the UGC guidelines.

Another resolution demanded that officials in physical education, including PTIs and coaches, be treated on a par with the university teachers so that they, too, could get the benefit of career advancement.