Administration misleading people on ‘Property Tax’ issue: National Conference

Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) accused the J&K Union Territory Administration of misleading the people on the ‘Property Tax’ issue.

In a statement issued to media here today the senior National Conference leader while appealing to the people not to be led away by the false propaganda unleashed by the incumbent UT Administration with clarifications being issued on the issue by the bureaucrats right from the Deputy Commissioners to top officials just to befool the people and get the said tax imposed on the people. He said that it is quite surprising to witness even the Lt Governor making frivolous statements quoting figures and facts that do not match the reality. He controverted the LG’s statement that very meager people will have to pay property tax as maximum constructions in the city cover less than 1000 sq ft. He said that the property tax when imposed as per the mandate of the issued notification will burden about 75 to 80 per cent population residing in urban areas with property tax.

Rattan Lal Gupta said that though the constructed area on ground may be less than 1000 sq ft but maximum such houses are double storied and even triple storied which means that all such small houses will exceed the floor area of 1000 sq ft by totaling all floors and thus subject to property tax.

The senior NC leader clearly exposes the ill intentions of the Administration as the bureaucracy is being used as a tool to mislead the people on this vital issue. He said that it is really unfortunate that even the high ups of LG administration making misleading statements, which are under no circumstances in the right spirit of Democracy.

Further accusing the UT Administration of not matching its words with deeds, Rattan Lal Gupta said that the statements issued by the officials can’t be trusted any more. He questioned the LG on his earlier promise that property tax would not be imposed in J&K without consulting the duly elected representatives. He said what was the urgency to impose property tax in J&K and break the promise made by him in a huff?

Taking a dig at the Union Govt, the NC leader said that even Amit Shah Honble Home Minister of India had said that the power has been transferred to 30000 elected people in J&K, but unfortunately these elected people have not been consulted before implementation of property tax which amounts to blatant exploitation of the people’s elected representatives who too don't want imposition of property tax. He demanded that let the elections take place first and then the J&K Assembly will decide whether or not to impose property tax. It is therefore requested to the Honble LG to withdraw the property tax for the betterment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.