(Rpt rephrasing para two)

Jammu, Oct 4 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP today accused ministers and MLAs in the state of fleecing the public exchequer and asked the government to come out with a 'white paper' on properties acquired by the legislators since 2002.

The white paper should include the details of the properties ''The legislators and ministers in the Congress-led coalition government today have plus the details on the properties they had before November 2, 2002,'' BJP spokesman Hari Om said at a press conference here.

A large number of ministers and legislators, he said, had acquired immovable property worth crores of rupees in posh colonies in Jammu city and elsewhere since 2002.

''There are legislators who had only a small house before 2002 elections, but now they are owners of several bungalows in posh localities,'' the spokesman said, questioning their means of income.

He further alleged that the successive state governments between 1996 and march 2006 had rigorously excluded the Jammu youth from the crucial service sector.

''This is evident from the fact that while the rate of unemployment in Jammu province is over 69 per cent, it is less than 29 per cent in the valley,'' the spokesman added.

BJP also demanded another white paper containing details of the appointments of gazetted and non-gazetted officials and daily wagers in each tehsil between 1996 and March 2006.

''Comprehensive white papers containing all such details alone can convince the people,'' Prof Hari Om said.

UNI VJ PR MIR HT1535