news details |
|
|
| | |
The state Government's move to levy
property tax on people in Jammu and
Kashmir is bound to generate criticism.It is bound to generate heated discussion and debate,particularly between the haves and the Government and not between the have-nots and the state authorities.Jammu and Kashmir is a state where one does not find either as big landlords,owning huge landed estates as one finds in Haryana and Punjab or those being in possession of palatial houses and owning huge shopping centres.Hence the segment owning a few acres of land and,at the most,a couple of houses and shops would get affected if the Government goes ahead with its plan of imposing property tax.And if the haves,atleast not the have-nots,including those belonging to the chamber of industries,trade and commerce oppose the Government move their anger is justified.But it is sheer madness to link the Government move to levy property tax with the separatists' struggle for securing for people of Kashmir the right of self-determination,as provided in the UN resolution on Kashmir.Yes one initially had believed in a healthy change in the stand of a senior separatists leader,Syed Ali Shah Geelani,who too had voiced his concern and opposition over the Government's plan to impose property tax.But this belief in change was shortlived when Geelani dubbed the move to levy property tax as part of the grand plan of sabotaging peoples' fight for securing the right of self-determination.What an argument ? Do people get fettered in their struggle for achieving freedom if they are forced to pay property tax.
Were people in India,who fought for country's freedom,not paying various taxes till 1947,when India became a free country ?Yes they were paying some taxes.
Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani termed the government's move to levy property tax as "part of a conspiracy to weaken Kashmiris economically and suppress the ongoing movement for right to self-determination." He believes that the "Government of India and its puppet regime" in Jammu and Kashmir are leaving no stone unturned to weaken Kashmiris. This is a part of the conspiracy to suppress the ongoing movement of Kashmiris.. The state,he argues, is a conflict zone and the conglomerate won't allow any new law or rule which is detrimental to people. He has pledged to resist the government move tooth and nail. The conglomerate will monitor the developments closely and if need arises formulate a programme to resist this anti-people move. He also went to the extent of assuring his support to any programme of the traders against the property tax.
Geelani accused the state government of vandalizing state's natural resources for their "petty interests.
" Thousands of kanals of land across the state are under illegal occupation of Indian forces; the state's forests and water bodies have been vandalized in the name of so-called development and its water resources have been sold and people have been left in lurch. Government of India and the state government want to make people of Jammu and Kashmir fully dependent on them by weakening their economy and crush their movement. Yes Geelani has an argument when he says that people in the state may get poorer if property tax is imposed.He is partly correct when he says that the Government wants people to become so weak and poor that they have no other alterna tive but to depend on the Government doles.What has happened and is happening since 1947-48 ?Since then the state and its people have been banking on the central Government's doles.Even 90 per cent of the wage bill of its employees is met by the centre.Yes Geelani is right when he blames the state Government and its agencies for having plundered its forest resources.Had the state Government made judicious use of the st ate's natural resources the economic condition of people of the state would have witnessed major transformation.Yes,production and export of fresh dnd dry fruit,besides handicrafts, saffron and tourism potential should have given new economic proto people.But the 23-year long Pakistan sponsored terrorism has affected all the sectors of state's economy thereby forcing people to witness what is called economic depression.In this context people may feel burdened when property tax is imposed.But it cannot affect separatists' plan of fighting for right of self-determination.Possibly Geelani aims at winning the goodwill of people,especially those connected with trade and industry who have been frustrated by repeated calls for shutdown given by Geelani.It is hoped that Geelani may raise his voice against the Government's move but without linking it with extraneous issues. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
