Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Several opposition parties today opposed Government’s decision to implement property tax in the Union Territory and demanded to review the decision forthwith.
Issuing a press statement here, the former Minister and vice president of Apni Party Ch Zulfikar Ali said that imposing property tax in present circumstances is not suitable as people are already under economic distress. “The economy has suffered because of decline in tourism, industrial and other private sectors following the August 5, 2019 and COVID-19 situation. The people are not in a position to handle additional burden on their pockets on the name of property tax. In this view, the decision to impose the tax should be reviewed for the welfare of the people,” said Ch Zulfikar Ali.
Opposing implementation of property tax in J&K, former Minister and senior Congress leader Yogesh Sawhney said the imposition of property tax while an economic slowdown is ensuing is grave injustice to the people. Further lashing out at the BJP, Sawhney alleged that the Centre is forcing and pressuring the UT administration to levy the property tax on the condition of providing additional borrowings to J&K. “This insinuates not only an absolute abuse of power but also the monopoly that the BJP seems to enjoy in all matters, thereby, leaving no freedom of choice for the people or even authorities, which are at the mercy of the this fascist Government,” he asserted.
Expressing concern over decision to impose property tax in J&K, Prof Bhim Singh, founder and president of J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) said that the UT Government has proposed unnecessary taxes on the suffering masses, set-up Toll Plazas almost in every district in Jammu region and downgraded full-fledged status of J&K State to two UTs. He asked the UT administration to stop misconceived machinations to further burden J&K people by imposing property taxes on households in the name of development and smart cities.
Opposing the UT Government’s move on property tax, Nimrandeep Singh Bhullar, general secretary of J&K Pradesh Youth Congress (JKPYC) termed it arbitrary and dictatorial in nature. “J&K is already reeling under a severe economic depression and levying property tax amid such a scenario is a deliberate attempt to bully its residents,” Bhullar said in a statement. He said that the new taxes will bankrupt the population.
In a statement issued today, Hakeem Yaseen chairman People’s Democratic Front while expressing serious concern about Government plan to levy property tax on land and houses in municipal limits of J&K described the move as a cruel anti -people and anti -poor proposition. He cautioned the Government against its anti people policies adding that people were yet to come out of shock on account of levying toll taxes that another sword in the shape of property tax is being put on their head.
All J&K 1947 PoJK Sharnarthi Intellectual Forum led by its chairman Advocate Amrik Singh and general secretary Surjit Singh, while condemning the Government move for imposing the property tax in J&K, termed it an anti-people law. The Forum urged upon the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to withdraw the unwanted notification as the public is already suffering with Coronavirus since January last year.
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