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BJP flays Kelkar report

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 23. The Kelkar Committee recommendations on tax reforms came under attack at the Bharatiya Janata Party's national executive committee meeting here today.

Rajnath Singh, chairman of the BJP committee which studied the recommendations, presented his report to the party president, Venkaiah Naidu, on the first day of the two-day meet.

With many members critical of the Kelkar recommendations, it was agreed that more time would be given to party members to give their suggestions and comments in writing.

The party felt that the harsh economic policies, cuts in subsidies and an excessive tax burden on the middle class had resulted in the erosion of the party's base and led to successive electoral defeats.

It wanted its suggestions and not the Kelkar recommendations to be implemented by the Finance Minister in the Union budget's tax proposals next year.

It also wanted the tax concessions on housing loans, the concessions to senior citizens and women and some tax rebates on savings to remain undisturbed. And, if possible, the additional tax concessions extended. The Kelkar report favoured ending all kinds of tax benefits.

One of the highlights today was the arrival of the Gujarat Chief minister, Narendra Modi, and the warm reception extended to him.

Tomorrow, the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, is expected to wind up a discussion on a political resolution during which the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K.Advani, is expected to intervene.

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