5 B. " C ')*"'+,-. VRGR '%&((!1#VCEB R BP A"'!#$#1!$"#0$"T utqBVQWBuxy( D %"& '''( B? D) %> ) 2-%3 4 /01 +-# . E9;;565>)9> +>.65>+)1;591/>;9>B 9).1;5)/> 06+E;591115> )5,)54)-14;+/>+<)1>E ;>1515,);+> / ,./0,-1,2- ! "$% !& 4))5-),6) !"! # $ R% / $ +15),)+ $ +15),)+ espite the decision of the top-ranking commander of DNational Conference (NC) Abanned Hizbul Mujahideen and Peoples Democratic Party (HM) and five Lashkar-e- (PDP), two main pro-election Tayyeba (LeT) terrorists were Q " political parties in Jammu & killed in assault on a hideout in # Q $ Kashmir, to stay away from the Chowgam village of south & poll process, the State Election Kashmir’s Kulgam district on ' ( Commission on Saturday Saturday post midnight. announced a four-phased A civilian protester was schedule for the crucial munic- also shot dead by security " ipal elections, starting forces during clashes in the "# October 8. aftermath of fierce gunfight )*+,- . The announcement for the that lent a serious blow to ter- conduct of the urban bodies’ '- . + rorists in south Kashmir . polls comes also against the &, region. The authorities sus- " backdrop of separatists’ call for pended train services in the 0 boycott and terrorists’ direct sought postponement of the Former Chief Minister and region and snapped internet "# $ %% M 2 threat to the prospective can- hearing of the litigations in the PDP president Mehbooba to prevent escalation in the & "' ( ' M didates and campaigners. apex court in the wake of pro- Mufti recently said the party situation. * + &, . The first notification for posed local body and pan- will not participate in the elec- Official sources said Gulzar 0 the urban local body polls chayat elections. The court tions as the prevailing situation Padder of HM and his four Police said Gulzar — an accom- “During the search opera- would be issued on September later deferred the hearing till in Kashmir was not favourable. accomplices were trapped in a plice of slain terrorist com- tion, terrorists opened fire on 2 0 18 and the voting in the first January next year. She said the party will not con- residential house, which was mander Altaf Kachroo — was the search party. Initially the " phase would be held on The NC was the first test the election till the encircled in the dead of night involved in a series of attacks, civilians were moved away & October 8 from 7 am to 2 pm. regional party in the State that Government takes positive following specific input. During including killing of five police from the site of encounter to # Addressing a Press confer- announced to stay away from steps to safeguard the special the heavy exchange of fire, two personnel at Pambay village in safer locations. 00. 3 " ence, Chief Electoral Officer the elections though the party status of Jammu & Kashmir. Army personnel were injured. Kulgam, last year. Turn to Page 4 # Shaleen Kabra said the polls avoided calling for a boycott or Turn to Page 4 4 "# would be held in four phases on launching any campaign for it. October 8, 10, 13 and 16 this The PDP followed suit and M # # Q & $ # 5 year. “The notifications for announced its inability to take #' % + ! & M "# phase 2, 3 and 4 will be issued part in the elections. ; ' Q on September 20, 22 and 24 Several other political ? . "# respectively,” said Kabra, groups with influence in spe- ,! ! 6 0 6 ; '" adding that 17 lakh voters cific pockets, including the #$"# #@ & ' ( % ) 278 were registered for the polls. CPI(M) and the Peoples’ )*+9 “The counting of votes Democratic Front, also chose to 5 - ) * % # 4-66 would take place on October stay away from the polls. 3 ( )*+9 20,” he said. The Congress remained % !% $$ 5>4->91 terror groups in the Valley. ! ! %& The NC and the PDP have indecisive on its stance to con- % The Jammu & Kashmir police has . decided to stay away from the test the elections while the % % <A/ o check terror funding and track set up 30 media cells for catering to the )7 8 "# municipal and panchayat polls BJP and several Jammu-based ) B) Tsuspected businessmen involved in local traditional media like the news- % %% citing the linkage of the elec- parties have not resisted the ) 9 hawala operations, the Jammu & papers. % & toral exercise with a series of lit- poll schedule. 8 Kashmir police has set up a Financial In addition, Facebook pages and igations in the Supreme Court Despite the NC and the Investigation Unit and is also aggres- Twitter accounts have been opera- . , challenging the special status of PDP’s decision to stay away, the sively using the social media to trans- tionalised by all the 26 districts, five J&K under the provisions of Governor administration firm- mit counter narratives to the radical ranges and two police zones to reach out &9 0 Q Article 35A. The Governor ly adhered to its plan to hold ! % thoughts being put forth by the sepa- to the public on a real-time basis. administration on August 31 the elections. ratist groups and Pakistan-sponsored Turn to Page 4 " 2 )7 & . % ( 1 O # ' ! with “phenomenal” increase O in tax base. &5 : ( ' ( “The CBDT is very clear ; that this year they will be able ! " ##$ to collect in excess of budget- ! "% , O 5 New Delhi: The Government last Budget presented on ed target,” he said. On indirect #&$' & % 4 is determined to keep fiscal February 1, meeting capital tax side, he said the Goods and & " deficit at 3.3 per cent of GDP expenditure targets, surpassing Services Tax (GST) is settling " on the back of buoyant tax rev- tax collections projections and down and a pick-up in con- ; . enues and expectations of sur- exceeding the record 1 lakh sumption will boost collec- ") 7< $#= passing the disinvestment tar- crore target of revenue mobil- tions in coming months. ) ! get, Finance Minister Arun isation from Government stake “We are confident that " % P Q Jaitley said on Saturday but sale in PSUs. between direct and indirect tax + , 2 remained non-committal on He, however, did not say if collections, the Government P ( Q cutting tax on petrol and diesel. the meeting discussed the will comfortably meet the tar- - . )/) . ( : A day after steps to contain recent spike in fuel prices that import bill putting pressure on without any cut”, he said, get if not surpass it,” he said, = 2 the widening current account has led petrol touching a record the country’s current account adding that it was extremely adding the 1 lakh crore dis- 0 . 2 deficit (CAD) and check fall of high of 81.63 per litre and deficit (CAD), and a fiscal necessary to maintain 100 per investment target will be sur- . the rupee were announced, diesel to 73.54 a litre. slippage. cent capital expenditure for passed. & # 0 = Prime Minister Narendra Modi There were expectations “The Government is con- high growth rate. “And on basis of all these 4 Q on Saturday continued his two- that the Government may cut fident and will strictly maintain “The Government is con- analyses, we are optimistic $ ( : Q day review of the economy as excise duty on the two fuels to the 3.3 per cent fiscal deficit fident that we will have a about our growth rate, our tax 0 he took stock of tax collections ease burden on the consumers target,” Jaitley told reporters growth rate higher than what collection and certainly as far ", . . 2 and macro-economic indica- but it seems it didn’t want to after the over three-hour long we had projected earlier this as fiscal deficit is concerned will . ! $ "# 0 tors in analysing performance take chance as it stands to lose meeting. year in the Budget. The infla- strictly meet the 3.3 per cent )1 1 of different wings of the 14,000 crore in revenue from With 44 per cent of the tion is broadly under control,” target,” he said. 2)11.3 ' 2 Finance Ministry. a 1 per litre cut in excise. budgeted capital expenditure he said. Asked if fuel prices and & ! " 0Q After the meeting, Jaitley It feels that the country estimate for the current fiscal On revenue collections, he duty cuts were discussed, he % % exuded confidence of surpass- cannot afford to have a twin year ending March 31, 2019 said the impact of anti-black said the meeting on Saturday " % ing the 7-7.5 per cent GDP deficit problem — a depreciat- already spent by August 31, the money measures, demonetisa- was internal review meeting. . ( : growth target projected in the ing rupee and high crude Government “will end