NC holds protest against imposition of property tax

Only elected Govt will decide about imposition of property tax: Ex-Minister

JAMMU, March 22: The activists of Jammu Kashmir National Conference on Wednesday held a strong protest demanding roll-back of the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s decision to impose property tax in the Union Territory.

Scores of NC activists led by former minister and JKNC Central Zone President, Babu Rampaul held a strong protest demonstration against the LG Administration for imposing property tax on poor people of J&K.

The party activists raised slogans against the imposition of the property tax and demanded its roll-back. The Union Territory administration has ordered the imposition of property tax in municipal areas from April 1. The tax rates will be 5% of taxable annual value for residential properties and 6% for commercial properties.

Babu Rampaul said that the government was trying to economically weaken the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “The LG administration is bent upon to destroy the people economically. Firstly, it introduced an anti-encroachment drive to raise down the houses of the poor and now imposed property tax,” he said, rejecting the Lt Governor administration’s assertion that the rates of property tax are lowest in the country and the majority of the population had to pay below Rs 1,000 annually.

“The same remarks were made when toll posts (on highways) were introduced and today, people are paying three to four times of the toll fixed originally. It will happen with the property tax as well,” he claimed.

The NC leader said his party will continue its protest against the “anti-people” policies of the J&K administration.

Former Minister also said that the central government was increasing the prices of domestic gas cylinders and said the rates were nearly three times less when UPA was in power at the Centre. “The economic situation in Jammu and Kashmir has become worse in the last five years. There is no employment generation, the industrial sector here is weak,” he said.

Talking to reporters, Former MLA Qazi Jalal-ud-din strongly condemned the imposition of Property Tax on the people of Jammu and Kashmir who are already being crushed by the highest inflation and skyrocketing prices of essential commodities. He said that the incumbent J&K Administration which is running BJP’s proxy government in J&K has been thrusting only-anti people policies on the people.

Zonal Secretary and Coordinator Jammu District (Urban) JKNC, Dr Vikas Sharma said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given slogans of ‘One Nation One Tax’ then why the government is making the life of common masses a hell by introducing such type of taxes. “People have strong apprehension that the ambit of property tax will be extended upto town and panchayat level in the coming days as areas under Municipal Corporation and Municipal Committees is just a beginning,” he mentioned.

Zonal Vice President and Coordinator Kathua District (Rural-B), Sham Lal Mehra expressed resentment against the misleading statement given by the Lt Governor that only 40 per cent have affected with this property tax while the fact is that nearly 8o per cent population who are residing in urban areas will be directly affected with the imposition of property tax in Jammu and Kashmir.

Among those who were present include Dr Vikas Sharma, BD Dalotra, Adv. Aslam Chowdhry, BD Sharma, Yashpaul, Satpaul Sharma, Prem Kumar, Prem Singh, S.Harjeet Singh, Dwarka Nath Khajuria, Piar Singh, Birbal, Raj Kumar and other.

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)