Opposition terms it ill-conceived move
Demanding immediate roll back of property tax notification, the several opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir has termed it as ill-conceived move of administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Former Chief Minister and Vice President of National Conference Omar Abdullah said that the ‘No Taxation Without Representation’.“No Taxation Without Representation”. Why should people in J&K pay state taxes including the proposed property tax when we have no say in how our government is run & no say in the decision making of J&K. We are expected to be mute spectators to all unjust decisions by Raj Bhavan,” he wrote on twitter.
Responding to the notification, NC’s Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been at the receiving end economically since 2019 due to the losses suffered by 5 August 2019 lockdown and then the successive COVID-19 lockdowns. Imposition of the property tax will further push the people to the wall. Such decisions will make the situation even worse.”
Questioning the haste in which such decisions are taken in absence of a democratically elected government, Imran said, “Such matters should be left to an elected government. The people’s representatives must be given an opportunity to discuss these issues.
Unfortunately such important issues don’t face public scrutiny in the current bureaucratic set up. It has become a habit of those in power in Delhi to issue orders, irrespective of their impact or public opinion.”He termed this decision anti-people and a grave injustice and demanded its immediate rollback. “Such revenue generation measures must be left to a democratically elected government in J&K,” he added.
DAP led by Ghulam Nabi Azad said that Government must reconsider its decision.
“Levying property tax in Jammu and Kashmir at this point of time is unacceptable given the soaring inflation, struggling businesses and poor economic conditions of people. Govt must reconsider its decision and allow the economy to grow,” DAP’s spokesperson Salman Nizami said.
Similarly, opposing the move the move, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee said that common people will be hard hit and it is new gift of BJP government to the people of J &K UT.
“The JMC had earlier announced that property tax shall not be imposed but the imposition of the tax has put the common people in great stress causing great resentment amongst the people” JKPCC said in a press statement.
Seeking withdrawal of the order, the party has said that it will oppose the same tooth and nail for the sake of common people.
