Friday, May 10News and updates from Kashmir

Rumblings of discontent in Jammu Kashmir after imposition of property tax

by News Desk
Photo/ Mehran Bhat~ TK

A media outlet based in Srinagar on Thursday published an editorial ‘Pro-People Move’ while referring to the admin’s recent order over the imposition of Property tax in Jammu Kashmir. The editorial further read, critics who oppose the tax are envying the prosperity of Jammu Kashmir.

ALSO READ: Property tax to be imposed from April 1 in Jammu Kashmir, Here is everything you need to know

The organization also published a video of over one minute with the concluding remarks, “So, let us all deposit property tax.” The outlet also tagged a senior official of Jammu Kashmir administration in their video. The scenario, however, on the ground is not as rosy. As the External Affairs of the Government of India, S. Jaishankar recently remarked the age more than anything is a battle of narratives. “All we can do is put our narrative forth, let others do the same,” he said, in an interview with ANI’s Smita Prakash.

Since the abrogation of Article 370, the figures of protests are at an all time low, Government claimed in the parliament. “The street protests have died down, There is no stone pelting, Jammu Kashmir is prospering with highest tourist footfall,” are the phrases we often hear in the media in their references to Jammu Kashmir, however, in Kashmir it is not about figures always.

Discontent in growing here in Jammu Kashmir. It is for the first time that some leaders of the Bhartiya Janta Party’s Jammu Kashmir unit openly opposed any policy of the LG-led administration since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

Emphasizing on the conflict in the region and its economic consequences, Bhartiya Janta Party’s Srinagar Spokesperson, Altaf Thakur said that it was not the “right time” to impose property taxes in Jammu Kashmir. Several leaders of the party have condemned the decision of the imposition of property taxes in Jammu Kashmir.

Jammu’s Mayor, Rajinder Sharma said levying property tax was the administration’s decision, not of the local body. “There will be a special House meeting after two days. The decision of the councilors will be informed to the L-G. In case the councilors are against the property tax, we will tell that the people of Jammu are not ready for this tax,” Sharma said.

However, not only politicians of the BJP, the office bearers of the Municipal Corporation in Kashmir’s capital have  opposed the admin’s decision of imposing property taxes. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation has strongly registered their protest against what it called “bureaucratic imposition” of taxes in Jammu Kashmir notified by officials earlier this week.

Corporators of Srinagar have gathered to pass a unanimous resolution against the imposition of taxes upon people, Parvaiz Ahmad Qadri Saif, the Deputy mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation said. “It is a direct imposition without having any of the stakeholders onboard. Who was consulted before the rules were drafted?” he asked. Only an elected Government should have the right to pass laws, he said.

Earlier, the former Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir Omar Abdullah had castigated the administration stating that it should not enforce laws upon the people of Jammu Kashmir. “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,” the former Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir tweeted.

Senior CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami termed the decision as “arbitrary and undemocratic”.

On Thursday, the High Court Bar Association in Jammu is observing a pen-down strike calling for an immediate rollback of the order.

The Jammu Kashmir administration issued notification announcing imposition of property tax in the Municipalities and Municipal Councils of J&K. The residential and non-residential properties have been included in collection of the property tax.

Though several including media houses have batted for the property taxes which will “increase the revenue of municipalities”, a move the municipal body in Srinagar has denounced.

Several local residents from Kashmir and Jammu have taken to social media to criticize the decision of the administration. A Social activis, Yasar choudhary wrote, “Another “Saugaat” Waiting for people of Jammu Kashmir from 1st April ,Be ready to pay property tax .UT govt. has leave no stone unturned to exploit the people of JK .( TARS TUM KO KYU NAI AATA ) EK TO BEROZGARI UPAR SE TAX PE TAX ( MODI HA TOH MUMKIN HA )”

Shamim Ganai wrote, “By suppressing people you can’t win hearts and minds of peoples of Jammu and Kashmir. One more draconian measure property tax to harrass public, exposed its all tall claims of good governance.”

 

Pran Razdan, a twitter user wrote, ” Nothing wrong sure. But Kashmir is still not normal to have this luxury. Migrant houses dilapidated for repairs or occupied by paramilitary are to pay property tax. Trade, employment, economy all affected by terrorism cant be taxed. Its not fair to pretend normalcy by these steps.”

Majid Hyderi, a political analyst from Kashmir said, “There’ll be no property tax in J&K this year! I believe this property tax issue being raised to divert attention from sabotage of land eviction drive by corrupt faces in JK admin. Property Tax issue will also give space to JK Netas to be relevant.”

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