Srinagar: As Jammu and Kashmir administration is set to levy property tax on those under the jurisdiction of urban local bodies (ULBs) from April 1, the former Chief Ministers, Bar Association, Mayors of Srinagar and Jammu and other politicians have strongly opposed the move.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association called for the one-day suspension of work against the decision.
M K Bhardwaj, the Jammu Bar Association president said the administration should withdraw the order and if it is not withdrawn, then the Bar Association will launch a street agitation to force the authorities to revoke the order.
Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu said the imposition of property tax in JK is ironically violative of municipal empowerment as this has neither been deliberated upon and 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,” Mattu tweeted.
Jammu Mayor, Rajinder Sharma, stated that the property tax was imposed by the Administrative Council of the Union Territory and not by the JMC.
The former CM and president of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti termed the imposition of Property Tax as another step to wreak havoc on people of JK.
“The imposition of Property Tax is only one step in the BJP’s daily process of wreaking havoc on Jammu and Kashmir. As part of an anti-encroachment campaign, our legitimate businesses and homes were recently destroyed, and now we are being required to pay taxes on those properties,” she said.
CPM member Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami said levying property tax in absence of an elected government is unconstitutional.
Former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad said that under the present economic scenario in JK, the imposition of tax is backbreaking.
Omar Abdullah termed the decision unjust. “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,” he tweeted.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief, Vikar Rasool Wani said that this is Naya JK for the BJP-led Government.
“I strongly denounced 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.
Farooq Abdullah, the former CM of JK and NC chief said that such orders do not bother the people anymore.
“They are issuing order after order. It does not affect us anymore. What can a slave people do? We are silent spectators,” he said.
