MUDDASIR ALI

Jammu, Feb 20: Jammu and Kashmir’s debt on account of loans towards the Gov-ernment of India and other financial institutions has grown beyond Rs 42200 crore, the State Government informed the Legislative Assembly Thursday.

In his written response to a question by BJP’s Chaman Lal Gupta, the Minister for Finance Abdur Rahim Rather said the borrowings from the open market shot up from Rs 5484 crore in 2008 to Rs 15510 crore in March 2013.

The ever-increasing dependence on the borrow-ings from the market has been a worrying feature of the state economy which has repeatedly put pres-

sure on the budgeted deficit estimates, leading to finan-cial indiscipline. Economic experts have been repeatedly calling for tighter adherence to the fiscal rules to avoid financial mess.

Rather said the loans bor-rowed by State Government from NCDC, GIC and other institutions have grown

from Rs 800 crore to Rs 2293 during the corresponding period and the liabilities in the form of State Provi-dent Funds, insurance and pension fund, endowments, reserve funds, major works and contracts and other deposits stood at Rs 2011 crore in March 2013.

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MUDDASIR ALI

Srinagar, Feb 20: The State Government Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that the policy to weed out “deadwood” from the administration has not been shelved and the call on premature retirement of another four “non-per-forming” employees would be taken in a meeting on Friday.

In his written response to a question by CPI-M MLA, MY Tarigami, the Minister in-charge of the General Administration

A side of the two-way road at Khanyar in Srinagar is encroached by the concerned police station for many years now, causing huge inconvenience to pedestrians and commuters. Aman Farooq/GK

LOOK WHO’S THE ENCROACHER!

Islamabad, Feb 20: Presi-dent of the Pakistan Adminis-tered Kashmir (PaK) Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan has hinted that Pakistan was ready to talk with India on the option of carving out an independent state of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We are ready to consider the option, if India comes to the negotiating table and puts forward the idea of giving J&K the independent status,” the president remarked in what appears to be a major policy shift.

He was speaking with a group of reporters after his meeting with Muhammad Afzal Khan, who is contesting the upcoming elections of the European Union from the UK, and Manchester Lord Mayor Naeemul Hassan.

The option of an inde-pendent state of Jammu and Kashmir had always been a contentious issue amongst the Kashmiris themselves and in India and Pakistan. Under the PaK interim consti-

tution, even those who believe in the idea of an independent Kashmir were barred from taking part in the PaK legis-lative assembly elections.

The PaK president said Pakistan was sincere in want-ing to resolve the Kashmir issue. “These things (discuss-ing options) are only possible when India comes to the nego-tiating table and admits that Kashmir is a disputed territo-ry,” he added. “If India agrees to give independence status to J&K, we can also think (along these lines),” he told another questioner.

To a question about the possibility of the BJP coming to power in India and its impact on the Kashmir issue, the PaK president said he was more hopeful of a resolution

PaK corridor no detriment to Kashmir issue: China K J M VARMA

Beijing, Feb 20: Defend-ing a proposed Economic Corridor through the dis-puted Kashmir region, China Thursday said the multi-billion dollar project will have "no det-riment" to the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan.

The 2,000-km corri-dor connecting China's Xinjiang region with Gwadar Port in south-western Pakistan is aimed at improving the well-being of people and is "not directed against the third party and (will) have no detriment to the relevant parties' position

Rajiv Case

SC stays immediate release of convictsPrime Minister says assassination was attack on soul of India New Delhi, Feb 20: The seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case will not be able to immedi-ately walk out of jail with the Supreme Court Thursday citing "procedural lapses" by the Tamil Nadu government which decided to release them.

The immediate effect of the apex court's order was on three prisoners—Murugan, Santhan and Arivu—whose death sentence was com-muted to life on February 18 by it as the Centre's peti-tion mentioned only their names but a bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam allowed it to file a separate application on the remaining four prisoners.

As the apex court has raised questions and agreed to examine in detail the pro-cedure adopted by the state government in deciding to release them, the seven con-victs will remain in jail till further orders.

"Issue notice to the State of Tamil Nadu, Inspector General of Prisons, Chennai, the Superintendent of Cen-tral Prison, Vellore and the convicts viz. V Sriharan @ Murugan, T Suthendraraja @ Santhan and A G Perarivalan

LoC trade resumes in JammuFreeze continues in KashmirSrinagar/Jammu, Feb 20: Cross Line of Control (LoC) trade in Kashmir failed to resume Thursday as no goods trucks arrived at the crossing point from Paki-stan-administered-Kash-mir (PaK), but it re-opened in the Jammu region with nine vehicles crossing over.

At Kaman post at Uri in north Kashmir, state authorities were waiting for trucks to come from PaK but none reported at the cross-ing point.

The gate at the 'Aman Setu' bridge was not opened, due to which a lone Indian truck, carrying clothes, could not cross over, official sources said here.

After deliberations fol-lowing a stand-off over seizure of a truck from PaK for allegedly carrying drugs, cross-LoC trade was expected to resume today. However, no Pakistani truck arrived near the Kaman post in Uri to cross over.

Sources said that three Indian trucks carrying

Will continue to remove ‘deadwood’ from administration: Government ‘4 more officials to face axe, 13 retired prematurely’

Meanwhile, Govt admits SSB failureJammu, Feb 20: The Government Thursday said the J&K Ser-vice Selection Board (SSB) has failed to fill up over 26000 posts referred to it during the past five years while the number of unem-ployed educated youth has crossed six lakh.

In a written response to a question by a legislator, the Govern-ment said 52,638 posts have been referred to the SSB from 2009 up to 14 February 2014, of which only 26,418 were advertised and filled up.

The remaining 26,220 posts are yet to be filled.

Pulwama on boil after militant’s killing

referred to the SSB from 2009 up to February 2014

26,418 posts advertised and filled up

26,220posts yet to be filled

52,638 posts

36 injured in clashes; Town under stringent curfew SHABIR IBN YUSUF

Srinagar, Feb 20: Scores of people were injured when clashes erupted in south Kash-mir’s Pulwama town Thursday against the killing of a local mil-itant in Army firing in Budgam yesterday. Authorities imposed curfew in the town to stop pro-tests.

Police said Tawseef Ahmad Dar son of Ghulam Hassan of Prichoo Pulwama was killed in an encounter with Army’s 53 Rashtriya Rifles in Dalwan Pakerpora village of Budgam (locals however said Dar was killed in Army firing). The area witnessed violent protests soon after the incident and half a dozen people were injured in the police action. One of the injured was admitted to SKIMS Srinagar for specialized treat-ment.

Reports from Pulwama said authorities Thursday morning clamped curfew in the town to stop protests in the area. Last night protests had rocked the town after the body of Tawseef was brought to his native vil-lage—Prichoo.

Early this morning, large contingents of police, CRPF and SOG men, wearing riot gear, were deployed at every nook and corner of the town. All the entry

and exit point were sealed by the forces with barbed wire. How-ever, scores of youth defied the curfew at many places and held massive protests, reports added. These mainly include Dangerpo-ra, Dalipora and Muran Chowk. The youth, reports said, chanted pro-freedom and anti-India slo-gans.

The protesters also pelted stones on forces and the forces in turn lobbed tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesters. In the ensued clashes, scores of pro-testors were injured. A report said at least 36 protesters were injured in the action by forces.

Tawseef’s friends lose ‘Rawalpindi Express’ Slain militant was a ‘top cricketer, fast bowler’SHOWKAT DAR

Pulwama, Feb 20: Known as ‘Rawalpindi Express’ for his fast bowling, the slain militant Tawseef Ahmad was a top cricketer of Pulwama town, his friends said.

They said he was the captain of Dalipora Cricket Team despite being youngest among the teammates.

Neglect of Urdu: LC terms matter seriousDirects Govt to inform House about steps taken to promote official language

Pakistan ready to carve out independent JK, says PaK president

Salman, Aziz meet in Male Male, Feb 20: A 30-minute meeting between External Affairs Minister of India Salman Khurshid and Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Pakistani premier for National Security and Foreign Affairs, took place here on Thursday.

India reiterated its long-standing demand to “expedite the trial of those charged for the Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead and over 300 injured.”

Pathribal case echoes in ParliamentMehboob Beg demands ‘immediate arrest of guilty army men’ ABID BASHIR

Srinagar, Feb 20: National Conference MP Dr Mehboob Beg Thursday stated that there was “no need to re-open or re-investigate the Pathribal fake encounter case as the country’s pre-mier investigation agency, CBI, has already named the army-men involved in the killing of five innocent Kashmiris in 2000.”

Speaking in Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour, Dr Beg demanded immediate arrest of the guilty army men.

ARVIND SHARMA

Jammu, Feb 20: Chairman of the Legislative Council Thursday directed the gov-ernment to view seriously the alleged neglect of Urdu, the official language of the State, and inform the House about the report of the committee constituted in this regard.

The LC Chairman, Amrit Malhotra, said the matter is very serious as Urdu is the official language of State. “Last year also the members expressed their concern over the matter after which a com-mittee under the chairman-ship of Chief Secretary was constituted to suggest neces-sary measures to ensure that Urdu gets its due share,” he said and asked the concerned minister, Feroz Khan, to

inform the House about the status of the committee and its report.

He also asked the gov-ernment to take “all proper steps” for promotion of Urdu in the State. “It is our duty to make sure that we encourage and pass on this language to the next generation,” he said.

Earlier the members, during the Question Hour, accused the government “giving a step-motherly treat-ment” to Urdu and not taking sufficient steps for its promo-tion.

Khalid Najeeb Suhar-wardy urged the government to appoint subject-specific teachers in all schools.

Master Noor Hussain said Urdu should be taught from primary level itself and the teachers be provided in district Jammu and Samba “where there are no Urdu teachers in schools.”

Jehangir Mir said the government is doing the opposite. “Hindi teachers are appointed at places where there is requirement of Urdu teachers and Urdu teachers

An elderly woman walks through curfewed Pulwama town in south Kashmir on Thursday. GK Photo

JK in debt trap Outstanding swells up to Rs 42300 crore: Govt

Rs 5484 Cr[in 2008]

Rs 15510 Cr[in 2010]

Borrowings from open market

See Pulwama on...on Pg-10 See SC stays...on Pg-10 See Will continue...on Pg-10

See Neglect of...on Pg-10See LoC trade...on Pg-10

See JK in debt...on Pg-10

See Pakistan ready...on Pg-10See PaK corridor...on Pg-10

See Salman, Aziz meet...on Pg-10See Pathribal...on Pg-10

SeeTawseef’s...on Pg-10

CMYK

CMYK