MT News Service
Jammu, February 16:
Former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney slammed the Centre after taking strongly to reports that the UT administration has begun the excercise for the imposition of property tax in Jammu. Last year the Centre had empowered the administration of Jammu and Kashmir to levy property taxes on land and buildings within municipal areas across the Union Territory. However, after much opposition from the public, the LG had ensured that the UT government is not imposing such a property tax and had claimed that it has been misinterpreted by some people. Sawhney said that either the LG’s assurance was false or the Centre is putting pressure on the administration for levying the tax, either way the BJP government is misleading the people of Jammu. The fact that on the one hand the LG has been constantly reassuring people, and on the other hand the government at the Centre is hovering over J&K and pressuring to carry out this policy, is sending mixed signals.
Launching attack on the Centre, Sawhney said that the BJP has made J&K crippled through it’s anti-people and pro-rich policies. Imposition of property tax while an economic slowdown is ensuing is grave injustice to the people. This policy shift wreaks of the old dark days when people were crushed under the burden of heavy taxation. The prices of petrol and diesel are already soaring record breaking highs, LPG prices were increased by ?50 yesterday, Jammu is already burdened by the numerous unnecessary toll plazas, and imposition of another tax on top of that is completely uncalled for. The motives of the Central government behind forcing the UT to impose this tax is a clear indication of their ulterior motives to extort and loot the people. They neither realise nor care that the people will suffer at the behest of their despotic policies. But they should also understand that any decent state will only function if and when it’s people feel empowered and heard, which is a far cry from the kind of system BJP has in place, he said.
BJP’s exploitative tax regime is causing distress and misery all across Jammu and Kashmir, and local businessmen, already struggling to pay taxes such as the goods and services tax, are not happy. People are having issues with the filing of GST and it looks a burden to them. People unanimously hold the view that a property tax must not be implemented at any cost.
Further lashing out at the BJP, Sawhney alleged that the Centre is forcing and pressuring the UT administration to levy the property tax on the condition of providing additional borrowings to J&K. This insinuates not only an absolute abuse of power but also the monopoly that the BJP seems to enjoy in all matters, thereby, leaving no freedom of choice for the people or even authorities, which are at the mercy of the this fascist government. It is not surprising that the government instead of rolling out fiscal help schemes and policies for the betterment of the people hit worst by the pandemic, is finding new ways everyday to increase the burden. ‘Where is the progress and development they promised? Where are the jobs or economic growth?’, said Sawhney. BJP’s only concern seems to be to fill it’s own wallet. Despite what is claimed and propagated, the fact is that BJP government is a rich people’s government and it will remain so. It only works for the betterment of the Ambani’s and Adani’s of India, and all of it’s policies since it has come to power are a clear proof of that.
While many key challenges have been glossed over by the government, they’re leading J&K to a very uncertain and uneasy course, where they enjoy supreme power and ultimate control, benefit from the financial perks, dismantle any left over democratic structures and establish it’s mandate as final. How long will J&K be in a state of chaos and suffering, is the real question. And how long will they be able to keep up the pretence of righteousness and delusions of development?
