Shadow Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 17:
The J&K Congress on Tuesday staged a protest against the Centre’s decision to impose property tax in the UT and demanded its immediate rollback and dismantling of toll plazas to end “tax terrorism”. The protest was organized by Corporators Ritu Choudhary and Mohiodin of Wards 6 and 7 respectively. Former Minister Raman Bhalla, Mula Ram, Yogesh Sawhney, General Secretary PCC Manmohan Singh, Hari Singh Chib, and Ex-Minister Garu Choudhary and senior Congress leaders also participated in the protest at Vivekananda Chowk.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla asked the government to ‘revisit’ its decision of imposing property tax in Jammu and Kashmir since no major economic activity was witnessed in the newly carved-out Union Territory after August 05, 2019, imposing property tax would be no less than a ‘shocker’ for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
People are weak enough to receive shocks and aftershocks as no major economic activity was witnessed here after August 05, 2019,” Bhalla said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered heavily over the years and it would be inappropriate to leave them ‘over burdened’ under present fragile economic conditions. He said that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is on record to say the government does not intend to impose property tax in Jammu and Kashmir. Bhalla lambasted the BJP and said .”Mark my words, Government’s decision to impose Property Tax on the public will bring the curtains down for the party once and for all.’ You have been extorting money from the people amid Corona pandemic like a blood sucking parasite. Imposition of Toll Tax followed by Property Tax would further aggravate the brewing anger of the people to catastrophic rage. You will be blown to smithereens and defenestrated from the core constituency by the people”, Bhalla said while taking a dig at BJP.
He wondered that how could the govt. impose Property Tax in a fragile environment of J&K where the economy has plunged to abysmally low.
Senior Congress leader Mula Ram called imposing property tax “grave injustice” to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He alleged that it is part of a slew of exploitative measures taken by the Centre since August 5, 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir split into two Union Territories. He said the decision to enable property tax was taken in the middle of an economic depression and “soaring unemployment” in Jammu and Kashmir. “Far from doling out fiscal help and other supportive measures, the government wants to suck the life and blood of people,” he said. Property taxes will overburden people, who are struggling to make ends meet”, he pointed out. He said government should come clean on the issue to remove all concerns and apprehension among the people on reports about levying of property tax in Jammu and Kashmir.
Former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney, General Secretary JKPCC & Incharge District President Jammu (U), speaking on the occasion, said how unfortunate was this that non-locals get domicile’s, Jobs, land, contracts, houses under real estate policy, financial aid under PM package.
While those who live here will face property tax on own properties.”The property tax order smacks of the despotic and anarchic rule the people of this land have witnessed. He questioned the Central government for its haste to impose property tax “undemocratically”, when it “owes the UT GST (Goods and Services Tax) money”.”Why is the Central government in such a haste to take such measures in absence of a democratic process? The people’s representatives must be given an opportunity to discuss these issues. It has become a habit of those in power in Delhi to issue orders, irrespective of their impact or public opinion,” he said.
Manmohan Singh while expressing serious concern about government plan to levy property tax on land and houses in municipal limits in Jammu and Kashmir has described the move as a cruel anti -people and anti -poor proposition. He asked the government to desist from levying property tax adding that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are already reeling under severe financial distress due to prevailing abnormal situation and political instability. He cautioned the government against its anti people policies adding that people were yet to come out of shock on account of levying toll taxes that another sword in the shape of property tax is being put on their head. He said people will be forced to come on roads in protest against levying of property tax, if the proposed move was not shelved.
Prominent among those who attended include Udey singh chib ,Gajan Singh, suresh Dogra, Thomas Khokhar , Sanjiv Panda , Rajbir Singh Dr, RK Khauria Madan lal Malager , Consolers dwarka ch. , Rijinder singh, Bhanu Mahajan , Ex Corporator , Uttam Singh, Satish Sharma , kulbhushan Sharma , Varinder Singh Manhas, Rajesh Sharma , Atul Sharma ,Vijay Singh, Raj Kumar Sodhi, Amrit Bali, Michael Wazir, Anil kumar, Rakesh Sharma, Kewal Krishan Jogi, Ch. Manmohan Singh, Gurmeet Kour, Vijay Singh Chib, Chander Sheikhar, Hari Singh Chib, Ch. Mohan, Jatin Vashisht, Sahil Singh Langeh, Latish Sharma, Varinder Pratap Singh, Naresh Sharma, Ajmer Manhas, Kirti Gupta, Camres David, Titus, Ashok Kumar, Dewan Chand, Praqdeep Bhalla, Surinder Singh Dutta, Vijay Malohtra, Balbir, Satish Sharma, Kulbushan Sharma, Janak Raj Mehra, Darshan Mehra, H.S. Baggi, Sandeep Dogra, Arun Chib, Surinder Dogra, Manjoor Ahmed, Shabir, Sikandar Khan, Balwinder Singh, Rishi Jangi, V.P. Singh, Barinder Pratap, Teja Singh, G S Sodhi , Harvinder Kour, Gagan Baral, Parasram Baloria and others.
