NC extends full support to ‘Jammu Bandh’ call

LG Manoj Sinha dispensation has no mandate to impose property tax: Rattan Lal Gupta

JAMMU, March 10: Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Jammu today announced full support of J&K National Conference to ‘Jammu Bandh’ call given by the Chamber of Commerce and Industries Jammu against the imposition of Property Tax by the Lt Governor led Administration. Asserting that the present dispensation has plunged the J&K UT into mess and chaos he said that the only solution to end these problems is to hold elections to J&K Assembly at the earliest.

In a statement issued to media here today, the senior National Conference leader stated that imposition of property tax in absence of a duly elected Govt is illegal and against the spirit of democracy. He said that the Lt Governor’s dispensation has absolutely no mandate to impose taxes on the people without their mandate given by them to their duly elected representatives.

Elaborating further, Rattan Lal Gupta said that property tax comes within the jurisdiction of the local bodies as per the constitutional mandate but it is an irony that  even the elected representatives in the local bodies including the Municipalities, Municipal councils and Municipal Corporations were not consulted before issuing the order of imposition of property tax. In fact ignoring the aforesaid duly elected members on the significant issue of property tax has totally exposed the BJP’s proxy government’s real intentions of giving the democratic institutions a damn. 

Questioning the Union Govt on failing to implement the much parroted ‘One Nation One Tax’ policy, the NC leader stated that this was promised by the Govt when GST was implemented then why instead of abolishing all other taxes the government is coming up with new taxes every other day thus harassing the common people of the nation and J&K.  

The Provincial President also castigated the Govt for the brutal lathi-charge on peacefully protesting job seekers who were only demanding their due rights and justice. He said that what justification the LG administration has for engaging the blacklisted companies for conducting recruitment exams in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that scams in FAA, SI jobs, etc have become the hallmark of the incumbent dispensation with transparence and accountability being a distant dream and thus the government have betrayed the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

 The NC  leader said that the only solution to all these complex problems is holding of elections to the J&K Assembly.

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)