ZT News Network
Srinagar: National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed their deep concern and resentment for the J&K administration’s planned move to introduce property tax in J&K.
On Friday, Ziraat Times has reported about the administration’s planned move to introduce Property Tax in J&K after the recent changes in the erstwhile state’s municipal laws.
National Conference General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar on Saturday chaired a meet of constituency in charges and office bearers of district Srinagar here at party head quarters Nawa-e -Subha, Srinagar.
Expressing concern over the imposition of property tax in J&K the leaders said that “amidst depressing economic activity and soaring unemployment, the GOI has amended two municipal laws of J&k and given power to the local administration to levy and collect property tax. Far from doling out fiscal help and other supportive measures, the government, the leaders said, wants to suck the life and blood of people. The leaders said the measure will push the people to the wall.”
Party’s Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, Senior leader Mubarak Gul, women’s wing president Shameema Firdous, Central Secretary Irfan Shah, Vice PP Muhammad Syed Akhoon, district president Peer Afaq Ahmed, YNC Provincial President Salman Ali Sagar, and VP YNC Ahsan Pardesi attended the meet.
National Conference leaders, while terming the move “as grave injustice”, said the imposition of the property tax, at a time when the economy is reeling under slowdown, will overburden people, who are struggling to make ends meet.
Meanwhile, comparing the proposed property tax to the “exploitative taxation regime during monarchical rule”, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader & former legislator Mohammad Khurshed Alam in a statement said that “dictatorial policies are being implemented in J&K at the behest of communal elements to cripple our economy and enforce asset devaluation.”
“The “property tax” order smacks of the despotic and anarchic rule the people of this land have witnessed for hundreds of years when we were crushed under the heavy burden of taxation. It is nothing but the revival of that dark, dreadful and disastrous era to which Kashmir’s blood soaked history is synonymous,” Alam said.
During the course of the meeting the participants discussed reorganization of YNC, current situation and issues concerning the people. The participants expressed dismay over the ever increasing slum growth, unplanned and haphazard growth, infrastructure deficit, management in government run health institutions and schools, and increasing unemployment rate.
The leaders said that the Srinagar city continues to receive step motherly treatment by the incumbent administration. “Despite being the administrative nerve center of Kashmir, Srinagar is being discriminated on all fronts. Post the unilateral abrogation of Articles 370, 35-A and the subsequent Covid 19 lockdown, many businesses have crumbled, people have lost their jobs. Handicraft, tourism sectors suffered irreparable damages. Upset, sad, helpless and crumbled, people of Srinagar are to run their households in wake of rocket soaring prices of edibles and other household merchandise. Many used to eke out their humble living by working in handicrafts and tourism sectors; unfortunately these sectors have incurred major reverses due to the subsequent clamp down, and lock down,” they said.
“The imprudent policies of the all the successive government since 2015, the leaders asserted have added to the plight of lakhs of artisans, forcing them to turn away from their family vocations and switch to other menial jobs. The leaders said the choking of private businesses due to the ongoing crises has plunged people into poverty. With few opportunities in the private sector, the public sector remains the only avenue of employment in Kashmir; but the government has failed to speed up the recruitment process. The leaders said the promised new dawn is nowhere perceptible on ground”, the NC said in its press statement.