PDP takes out protest march against imposition of property tax in J&K

Srinagar, February 25 (PTI) The PDP on Saturday took out a protest march to demand roll-back of the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s decision to impose property tax in the Union Territory.

The Union Territory administration on Tuesday ordered the imposition of property tax in municipal areas from April 1. The tax rates will be five per cent of taxable annual value for residential properties and six per cent for commercial properties, it stated.

Dozens of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) activists led by Suhail Bukhari, its chief spokesperson, took out a protest march from the party headquarters near Sher-e-Kashmir Park here.

The party activists raised slogans against the imposition of the property tax and demanded its roll-back.

The protesters tried to march towards the Lal Chowk city centre but were stopped by a contingent of police near the Traffic Headquarters. They later turned back and dispersed.

Speaking to reporters, Bukhari alleged that the government was trying to economically weaken the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“First, our political rights were taken away, then democracy was buried here, poor people were harassed in the name of demolition and their houses bulldozed.

“Now the property tax. The economic situation in Jammu and Kashmir has become worse in the last five years. There is no employment (generation), industrial sector here is weak,” he said.

The PDP chief spokesperson said the administration should have held people’s hand “but, contrary to that, the BJP government is trying to further the troubles of the people”.

He demanded that the government roll back the decision.