Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Jammu president Arun Gupta on Friday threatened of ‘bandh’ if the government does not revoke property tax in the union territory.
Addressing the media persons, Gupta said, “The government had decided to implement the property tax w.e.f. 1st April 2023 and issued a statutory order SO-87 in this regard. There is no land policy and we are of the firm opinion that government should come up with a land policy so that the people of Jammu & Kashmir can get the ownership/lease rights. At present, the people of Jammu are much disturbed by the non-cooperative attitude of the government which instead of giving relief to the general public is imposing this property tax.”
The business community has out-rightly rejected the imposition of the property tax in the meeting held on Thursday and the participants and presidents of various bazaar and trade associations unanimously opposed the implementation of property tax and demanded immediate withdrawal of this SRO, he said. “They were of the firm opinion that if the government refuses to withdraw this SRO, the Chamber should go for Jammu Bandh,” he added.
By imposing property tax, the government is of the view that the municipal and local bodies will get central aid which otherwise they are losing due to non-implementation of property tax, Arun Gupta said. We are of the firm opinion that the States/UTs where this property tax is applicable are already developed ones and our comparison with them cannot be justified, he said.
“If we compare the tax rates applicable in Chandigarh this way, we are comparing a highly-developed UT with our underdeveloped UT even where basic amenities which are required for common people are not available,” the CCI Jammu said.
He said Chamber is of the “firm opinion” that this SRO should be withdrawn by the government to give a sigh of relief to the people of Jammu & Kashmir UT. “If the government fails to understand our feelings, then we shall have no other option but to go for a bandh call by consulting civil society, Bar Association and others,” Gupta said.
