J&K Parties, Barring BJP, Oppose Property Tax 

SMC Mayor says decision taken without approval of elected ULBs, will contest move

Srinagar- The imposition of property tax in Jammu and Kashmir has drawn flak with almost every political party except BJP denouncing the government order saying that it is an attempt to overburden the people who are already reeling under economic difficulty due to decades of turmoil.

Srinagar city Mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu has gone a step further saying that the decision was not approved by elected ULBs and that the SMC will explore ways to contest what he called an ‘arbitrary move’.

Former Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President, Omar Abdullah, in a tweet asked why the people in J&K will pay the state taxes including the property tax when they have no say in how the government is run and other decision making.

“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,” Omer Abdullah tweeted.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti charged that the imposition of property tax in Jammu and Kashmir was part of the BJP’s larger agenda of impoverishing the people of the union territory.

“The real aim is to make people of Jammu and Kashmir so poor that they don’t demand anything. Look at the rest of the country, 80 crore people are getting free ration. They don’t ask for jobs or cheaper fuel. They just wait for the five kg grain so that they can feed their kids. They want to bring J-K also to the same level. This is part of a larger agenda to bury people of J&K,” she told reporters at the PDP office here.

People just have to refuse to pay the tax peacefully, she added.

The PDP president said the economy and development indices of Jammu and Kashmir were better than some of the states in the country.

“They could not bring other states at par with J-K, now they are trying to bring us at par with other states,” he added.

The former chief minister said the BJP has been a “disaster” for Jammu and Kashmir.

“There are (natural calamities) earthquakes and floods. Just like that we have new orders every day, be it regarding jobs, demolition drive or now the property tax,” she said.

“How will the shopkeepers of Raghunath Bazaar in Jammu pay the tax when there is no business? In Srinagar and other towns of Kashmir, three to four families live in one house. They don’t have money to pay electricity bills and you are asking for property tax,” she added.

Responding to a question, Mehbooba said the people will have to resist if they want to get rid of these frequent orders rather than put burden on them.

“You have to resist to exist. Unless you resist, they will keep crushing you. People just have to refuse to pay the tax peacefully. We will not pay,” she said.

J&K People’s Conference president Sajad Lone tweeted,  “Levying property tax in the aftermath of COVID-19 is an attempt to ensure economic euthanasia”.

“Property tax in the aftermath of years lost in Covid seems determination to turn every stone that can be turned to ensure economic euthanasia. Governments have pumped billions worldwide to bump start ailing economies. In wonderment,” Lone tweeted.

“The government has come up with a detailed clarification on property tax. I still say no. Not the time to tax. But to whoever came up with this rare idea of explaining the concept with humility. From an admin which is otherwise disdainfully arrogant and unambiguously detestable,” he tweeted.

CPI(M) Central Committee member and former MLA MY Tarigami termed the decision “arbitrary and undemocratic”.

“Levying property tax is arbitrary and undemocratic. The process of collecting the tax and deciding the value is the sole prerogative of elected institutions. The notification is in deep contrast to the 74th constitutional amendment. It must be withdrawn forthwith,” Tarigami said.

Former chief minister and Democratic Azad Party (DAP) chief, Ghulam Nabi Azad reacted by saying that he is not against the property tax, but there is a need to understand that from past over three decades, the people in J&K have suffered in every aspect due to militancy, thus leading the increase in the unemployment and also weakening the economic condition.

“I can only say that the time is not apt for the move because of the economic conditions of the people here,” he said.

Srinagar Mayor, Junaid Mattu while terming the move as ‘arbitrary’, said that the decision has not been approved by elected ULBs. He also said that the SMC will explore ways to contest the arbitrary move.

“Imposition of Property Tax in J&K is ironically violative of municipal empowerment as this has neither been deliberated upon, nor approved by elected ULBs. While SMC will explore ways to contest this arbitrary move, I am writing to the Hon’ble LG seeking a withdrawal of the SO,” SMC Mayor tweeted.

Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief, Vikar Rasool Wani denounced the move and said that this is Naya J&K for the BJP led government.

“I strongly denounce the levying of property tax on our people who are unable to run their homes due to the high rate of inflation, immense unemployment rate and zero business activity. This is BJP lead Centre Government Amrit Kaal and LG administration Naya Jammu Kashmir,” JKPCC chief tweeted.

BJP’s J&K spokesman Altaf Thakur while speaking over the issue, said that the time is not apt for the move. “The party led by its president Ravinder Raina will approach the administration in this regard to seek their intervention,” he said.

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