| BJP regime expanding liquor trade in Jammu region for tax mobilization: Harsh Dev | | Over200 liquor vends in Jammu, 4 in Kashmir | |  EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 13: "At a time when people were seeking end to all discrimination against Jammu region in the matter of development, funds allocation, employment etc, the BJP regime has come up with the bizarre proposition of opening more liquor vends in Jammu region as against Kashmir. While around 200 liquor shops are being auctioned in Jammu region, merely 4 liquor shops are proposed for Kashmir region. Is this the new mechanism conceptualized to end bias against Jammu region post Art 370 abrogation as was being repeatedly announced by BJP leadership?"
This was stated by Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman while addressing a press conference in Jammu today.
Speaking Harsh Dev said that the successive govts had been relying upon Jammu region for revenue generation. He divulged that the statistics provided in Assembly in response to various AQs had revealed that Jammu region accounts for around 76% of the total tax collection in J&K.
"Such tax collections are raised in the form of GST, Excise duty, VAT, Motor spirit tax, stamp duty, passenger tax, toll tax etc. And while the major part of revenue is realized from Jammu region, its share in the development and allied sectors in minimal. Even post Art 370 abrogation, the focus of the govt has remained on Kashmir and several development and employment packages having been announced for the said region with a mere sprinkling falling in the kitty of dogra land", rued Singh.
Not only had the govt now proposed a higher number of liquor vends as a measure of resource mobilization from Jammu region, but it also installed four Toll Plazas around Jammu city with two others in the offing. The govt policy of taxing Jammu and spending in Kashmir is akin to the popular adage of "robbing peter and paying paul". It further smacked of a deeper conspiracy. The helmsmen seemed to be scared of the Kashmir leadership and hence Jammu region is being chosen for this noxious liquor trade", lamented Singh.
Maintaining that the BJP govt's policies had sparked massive outrage in Jammu region, Singh called upon the people of dogra land to unite to safeguard its interest and its honour and dignity. |
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