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| Kashmiri separatists display change in mindset | | | If one reads the statements from Syed Ali Geelani,Chief of Tehrik Hurriyat Conference,and Molvi Umar Farooq,Chairman All Party Hurriyat Conference,on imposition of property tax one may not hesitate saying that the separatists hav started displaying change in their mindset and their outlook.Ever since militancy took roots and the separatist conglomerate was born these separatists hardly reacted against any problem of the people except those connected with human rights violation,excesses by the security forces,custodial killings and India-Pakistan reraltions and above all the Kashmir issue.These separatists were quick in reacting to the piece of legislaion under which people in the state may have to pay property tax.Those who have constructed houses on less than 10 marlas of land were not to pay any property tax.Big commercial establishments,those owning palatial houses on sprawling piece of land are supposed to pay the property tax. Reacting to the
proposed legislation, the Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani described it as anti-people. “This is an anti-people legislation aimed at crippling the economy of the people of Kashmir."Geelani said such legislations are aimed at choking the progress and prosperity of Kashmir and harass the people. “It is a concern for us,” he said. “These are the contours of slavery which we are fighting against. That is why we are demanding resolution of Kashmir to put an end to this forcible occupation of the state.”
The Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said it was an uncalled for move to impose tax on properties. “On one hand life is becoming difficult with inflation and the failure of the state Government to address it and on the other such harsh laws are being imposed on people who have suffered a lot in the past two decades,” he said. He said bread, shelter and clothing are the basic necessities of life. “ “People in the state are jobless and unable to have even two square meals. So it is an uncalled for legislation given the fact that the Government very well knows about the financial affairs of the state.”The entire opposition,including some legislators belonging the ruling coalition too have opposed the piece of legislation on two grounds. one,majority of people may not be in a position to pay the property tax because of the losses they have suffered on account of two-decade long militancy related violence.They
say when the sectors of agriculture,horticulture,industries and tourism had been hit hard by the militancy related violence it was not possible for majority of people to pay the property tax.But the reaction from the separatists is surprising and at the same time meaningful.
Why they reacted against the imposition of property tax?Political analysts give two reasons.First the separatists have realised that by opposing anti-people policies and measures they could regain the grtound that they had lost during the last five years or more.They do not want to get restricted,rather chained,to issuing statements on the need for settlement of the Kashmir issue.They no longer want to rake up the human rights violations when the level of such violations have declined signifiucantly.Hence they want to comeout of the shell and oppose measures that have the potential of harming peoples' economic interest.Secondly,most of the separatists have built palatial houses and have sprawling orchards.Some among them own more than two big houses in the state and they fear that Government decision to levy property tax may pinch hard their pockets. Not only this,big business houses have been financing these separatists in Kashmir and
the quantum of
financial assistance may get reduced once these big traders and industrialists would be asked to pay property tax.Hence their heart throbbed with the rich.Had it not been the case they should have appreciated the Government for having kept the poor people and those living in the lower middle class category out of the purview of the new piece of legislation.In fact the Government has introduced property tax in order to compensate the ongoing cash crunch.But it could have avoided it had it enforced austerity measures strictly.There would have been no need to bring people under the ambit of property tax had not the state legislature adopted a bill raising monthly salary of legislators and ministers by 100 per cent.
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