Congress continues protest over smart meters, price-rise, imposition of property tax, toll plazas

People of J&K will return back tax gifts in forthcoming elections: Bhalla

 Govt pushed country into a ‘vicious cycle’ of inflation: Mulla Ram

Jammu, August 22, 2024:- In view of no response from Govt, Congress leaders led by JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla  and accompanied by  former Minister Mulla Ram, Former Minister and  InCharge District President Jammu Urban Yogesh Sawhney, District Rural President Hari Singh Chib, Sanjeev Panda, Gurdarshan Singh Tuesday continued protest to highlight the issue of deployment of smart meters in Jammu, power outages, price-rise, imposition of property tax , Toll Plazas and other such issues which are hampering the daily lives of people in Jammu and Kashmir. The protest was organized by Manmohan Singh General Secretary PCC. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Uttam Singh, Kewal Krishan Yogi, Rajinder Singh Jamwal, Raj Kumar, Vijay Kumar besides others. The protest march went through Bazzar of Talab-Tillo covering nearly five Kilometer on foot. Congress leaders holding placards demanding closing toll plazas, stopping to install prepaid smart meters ,rollback of property tax raised slogans against govt to stop anti-people decisions.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said people of J&K are already distressed both economically and politically in view of the long spell of terrorism and the prevailing security situation coupled with the Centre’s experiments to deal with the problem as a result the normal business and other activities remain derailed to great extent. In such a situation, J&K can’t be equated with other UTs or states in the matter of taxations, especially when no facilities of the like are available here,” he added. He said bureaucratic regime under the command of the central government is harassing the common man by issuing series of anti-people orders. Claiming that the Modi government has pushed the country into a “vicious cycle” of inflation, he said the prices of essential commodities will automatically fall if the prices of petroleum products are reduced, as it would lead to decrease in transportation costs accusing the Modi government of “ruthlessly profiteering” from the sale of petrol and diesel.

Bhalla supporting Sarore agitation also joined Yuva Rajput Sabha agitation for abolishing the toll plaza and demanded immediate removing the same besides seeking white paper over the time period of other toll plazas in Jammu. Bhalla .strongly condemned detention of leaders of Yuva Rajput Sabha who were peacefully protesting against the illegal toll plaza at Sarore Extending full support to the agitation launched by people under aegis of YRS,  Bhalla said that this demand was being raised by the different organizations especially transporters , who had held strong agitation also in the past but the government remained adamant. The Sarore toll plaza is in total violation of the norms of distance besides ors but the jammuites including Vaishno Devi pilgrims are being taxed. Demanding immediate disbanding of toll plaza at Sarore, Bhalla demanded a white paper on the life of other toll plazas in Jammu in view of revelations about toll plazas collection by the CAG. Bhalla also supported the protest by the taxi, auto & other transporters who are  being made to sufer after 52 years when Jammu railway station was set up. The parking place has been reportedly sold to some contractor and now the local small transporters and operators are being destabilized by the BJP government.

Bhalla said without any elected Government, the people of J&K easily fall prey to the malicious tactics of BJP. People are being exploited as taxes in the form of power tariffs, toll taxes, property tax etc and prices soar through the roof. This has been an ongoing issue ever since the advent of BJP. He said that imposition of property tax was another blow to the already economically and politically distressed people of the region by the bureaucratic UT regime and the Centre in the absence of an elected government.He said BJP Government in the State and BJP Government at the Centre has increased the miseries of common people manifold. He said rise in prices of food grains, cooking gas, vegetables, fertilizers, seeds have broken the backbone of the common man. The poor middle class BPL people are hand to mouth and their purchasing capacity sharply come down. The people are feeling insecure. Are these “good days”, Bhalla asked, adding that the common man is praying to God for “old bad days”.

Bhalla said in present situation, common man cannot have his own house due to rise in prices of cement and steel, sand, bajri and other building material items like wood etc. BJP Government has not even spared the cost of recharging mobile connections. Service tax on mobiles has badly hit the common youth.The rise in the prices of diesel and petrol has become big question mark for the BJP Government at the Centre. Since 2014 the prices of crude oil have reasonably come down but Central Government have failed to reduce the prices, said Bhalla. Alleging that Modi Govt is promoting `Tax-terrorism’ across the country, Bhalla blamed BJP for series of anti-people and anti-youth decisions.The Govt at the centre and UT administration is choosing the opportunity to take certain decisions against the wishes and aspirations and interests of the general people, forcing the people to protest and come on roads, added Bhalla.

Mulla Ram lashed out at BJP Government for anti-people decisions against the various hardships faced by the people including economic crises and the unprecedented hike of petroleum and other products. He criticized the Modi led Govt for imposing heavy taxes of various kinds thus breaking the backbone of common man.He said that the people are facing great economic crises and the Modi Govt has decided to impose Property Tax in the J&K. The pilgrimage, tourism and trade which is already suffered a huge loss but the BJP Govt is putting huge burden of Taxes on the common man. The installation of series of Toll Plazas right from Lakhanpur, Sarore, Akhnoor, Ramban including Ban Nagrota and described it the highly objectionable move of the Modi Govt. He demanded immediate roll back of decision of Property Tax in the larger interests of the common people. He also expressed concern over the privatization of Power sector.

Yogesh Sawhney said that the people are suffering due to the tax regime of BJP and people face difficulty in meeting both ends during the manifold increase in prices of all commodities.He said that in recent times multiple taxes were imposed/ hiked in J&K including Toll Tax, one time Road Tax, charging of higher rates of stamp duty besides manifold increase Registration fee. He said Congress vehemently `opposes fleecing the common people’ in name of various taxes and demanded review of the tax regime. The mining policies of the Govt, leads to great sufferings to all people especially the manifold confusion, smuggling, price hike of building material due to wrong policies of the Govt.The Administration and the Centre keep on making decisions for Jammu and Kashmir’s public without any inputs from the stakeholders or thinking of any of the consequences. In a recent example, the installation of smart meters without any control of power tariffs first will cause an immediate and massive financial burden on the consumers, Sawhney said.

Hari Singh Chib and Manmohan Singh also briefed on other major issues including withdrawal of old age and widow pensions is another cause of concern, they said. There is an increase of wine shops in residential areas across the city. What does this say about the priorities of the Government? All policies are focussed towards increasing the earnings of the government, whereas the other aspects such as social welfare and quality of life are being neglected. They expressed their discontent with the BJP Government’s policies. They labeled it as a regime marked by high taxes, numerous toll plazas, and rising inflation. They accused the government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of burdening the common man with excessive taxes. They also mentioned the increase in electricity costs and the installation of “Smart Meters,” which he alleges are faulty and costly. He asked the government to immediately abolish the Toll Plaza at Sarore without any further delay.

 (NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)