J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hurriyat leaders deny secret talks
SRINAGAR, May 21 — Leaders of the Hurriyat Conference have denied reports that they were released after reaching an agreement for talks with the Centre.

Kisan union slams J & K Govt
JAMMU, May 21 — The All J&K Kisan Union (AJKKU), headed by senior Congress leader and MLA, Mr Ashok Sharma, has accused the state government of having earmarked 80 per cent of the budgetary funds for the urban areas and 20 per cent for the rural areas.

Hurriyat leaders deny secret talks

SRINAGAR, May 21 (PTI) — Leaders of the Hurriyat Conference have denied reports that they were released after reaching an agreement for talks with the Centre.

“Neither secret talks were held with the Centre while we were in jails nor secret talks are going on between the two sides,” they said at a seminar organised in connection with the 10th death anniversary of late Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq here yesterday.

Former Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said it was the “international pressure” that compelled India for dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference.

Senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone said “no secret talks are going on between the Hurriyat and the Centre”.

Chief spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference Abdul Gani Bhat refuted reports that the Hurriyat leaders were released under some agreement for talks with the Centre.

Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani alleged that the Centre was trying to create differences among the Hurriyat leadership by making “controversial” statements. 

Kisan union slams J & K Govt
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, May 21 — The All J&K Kisan Union (AJKKU), headed by senior Congress leader and MLA, Mr Ashok Sharma, has accused the state government of having earmarked 80 per cent of the budgetary funds for the urban areas and 20 per cent for the rural areas.

This was alleged by a delegation of the AJKKU, led by Mr Sharma, which met two members of the 11th Finance Commission here on Thursday. It charged that the National Conference had not been able to utilise funds properly and the diversion of funds from one sector to the other had left several projects unfinished.

The delegation demanded adequate central funds for the completion of railway line from Jammu to Udhampur. It informed the commission that people in the Jammu region continued to receive a raw deal from the government and they were forced to suffer because of an acute shortage of potable water and electricity. It made a strong plea for central help in completing several power projects, including the Sewa project in Kathua, Bhagliar, and Dhul Hasti. It wanted the waiving of agricultural loans up to Rs 50,000.

The delegation criticised the state government for its failure to recover huge tax arrears from big business houses, political leaders and senior bureaucrats. It requested the commission to enforce a ban on transferring funds earmarked for district development to the state sector.

The members suggested to the AJKKU delegation to send a detailed report on the misuse of funds by the state government to the commission so that the necessary action could be initiated by the Union Finance Ministry.