Srinagar- Amidst the anti-encroachment drive in Jammu and Kashmir to retrieve State land, DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said if his party is elected to power, it will bring back the Roshni Act under which the ownership rights were given to the occupants.
The act was enacted in 2001 by the National Conference government, and was repealed in November 2018 by then governor Satya Pal Malik.
Azad told reporters in Anantnag district of south Kashmir that the anti-encroachment drive to retrieve land given to people under the act should be stopped. “If we form the government, then we will implement the Roshni scheme once again.”
The Roshni Act, officially known as Jammu and Kashmir State Land (Vesting of Ownership to Occupants) Act, 2001, was enacted by the Farooq Abdullah government. The law granted the ownership of encroached land to the occupants to raise funds for different power projects of the government.
The law was modified during Azad’s chief ministerial tenure from 2005-2008.
Azad also addressed his party workers Thursday and promised to the “people that if my party is elected to power, we will re-enact the Roshni Act in the assembly.”
In 2014, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report pointed out that many political persons from different parties had been benefited under the Act.
In November 2018, then governor Satya Pal Malik repealed the Act. On October 9, 2020, the High Court of J-K and Ladakh declared the Act illegal, unconstitutional and unsustainable , and ordered a CBI probe.
Later, the government decided to retrieve such land.
“Today, notices are being served, the land is being retrieved. I had passed the bill of Roshni in the assembly keeping in mind the poverty of the people here. Be it Hindus, Muslims, Kashmiris, Gujjar-Bakerwals, they possessed lands for over 100 years when there were only two persons in the house.
“Now, they have grown in numbers and cannot be accommodated on those lands. They cannot build houses or farm them. So, I made them owners of the government land,” he said.
The law was passed in the assembly by elected representatives, by an elected government, he said.
“This decision was taken to end the poverty of the people, so that they at least have a house or some land or for a small shop or a kitchen garden. Which storm was caused by it? We did not give land to some other country, but our own people. The land is for the people,” the former Union minister added.
In the last few weeks, the J-K administration retrieved hundreds of kanals of state land which was under the occupation of the people including several high-profile persons.
Put property tax imposition on hold till economic situation improves in J&K: Azad
The Jammu and Kashmir government should postpone the imposition of property tax for a few years till the economic situation in the union territory improves, DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Thursday.
He also said if his party is elected to power, it will bring back the Roshni Act under which ownership rights were given to occupants of state land.
Speaking to reporters in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, Azad said the economic situation in J-K over the last 35 years has become “bad” because of militancy.
“Our unemployment, inflation has increased manifold. Our tourism, handicraft, horticulture, has suffered a great deal and the people of J-K, including businessmen, transporters, shopkeepers, have suffered losses.
“There is no person from Lakhanpur to Tangdhar who has not suffered losses. So, in such a situation, when we are taking land from them, increasing electricity charges, we are not in a position to pay property tax,” he said.
The former J-K chief minister said in the last four years, since Article 370 was abrogated and J-K changed to a UT in 2019, and also due to the Covid outbreak, the backs of people have been broken.
“Ration supply has been deceased from 35 kgs to five kgs. So, the people have not got any respite. They do not have any income, so, how will they pay tax. Our people do not have any problem in paying tax, but first, there should be income. We know tax will benefit us, but, people should have that power to pay tax first, that money first.
“Right now, they do not have money to sustain themselves, where from will they pay tax? So, I will appeal the government to hold it for four-five years till our economic situation gets better,” he said.
“Let our tourism run smoothly for five-six years, our horticulture produce go to the market, our handicraft be exported, then perhaps we will be in a position to pay tax, Azad added.
He said the government should have sympathy with the people and not form policies while sitting in offices, but by having discussions with the people.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday issued a notification for imposition of property tax in the union territory which will come into effect from the next financial year.
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