Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 17: The Congress Party today staged protest against the Centre’s decision to impose Property tax in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and demanded its immediate roll back and dismantling of Toll Plazas to end “tax terrorism”.
The protest programme was organized by Corporators- Ritu Choudhary and Mohiudin of Wards 6 and 7, respectively. Former minister Raman Bhalla, Mula Ram and Yogesh Sawhney; PCC general secretary Manmohan Singh, DCC president Jammu-Rural Hari Singh Chib and Ex-minister Ch Garu Ram and many other senior Congress leaders also participated in the protest at Vivekananda Chowk here.
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. He said imposing Property tax would be no less than a ‘shocker’ for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
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 condition. 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. He lambasted the BJP and said Government’s decision to impose Property Tax on the public will bring the curtains down for the party.
“Imposition of Toll Tax followed by Property tax would further aggravate the brewing anger of the people to catastrophic rage”, Bhalla added.
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.
Property taxes will overburden people, who are struggling to make ends meet”, he added.
Yogesh Sawhney, Manmohan Singh, Uday Bhanu Chib and others also spoke on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Youth Congress led by its J&K UT president Uday Chib also held separate protest demonstration at Go Manasan (Jammu-Rural) against imposing Property tax and fuel price hike and demanded immediate roll back. The PYC workers were raising loud slogans against BJP and the Modi Govt. They alleged that Petrol price has reached Rs 100 per litre and the people are left to bear the brunt of inflation. LPG domestic cylinder has witnessed Rs 150 hike in just last one month.
Meanwhile, NDPI president , Rajesh Gupta has expressed strong resentment over Govt’s decision of imposing Property Tax on people in J&K. In a press statement here, NDPI leader appealed the Govt to roll back on its most unfair and unjustified decision as people are already suffering due to economic crisis amidst Covid-19 pandemic.
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