JAMMU: The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) on Friday demanded rollback of the government’s decision of imposing property tax in the municipal areas of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the chamber will be forced to call for a shut down if the government does not pay heed to the sentiment of general public.
Addressing a presser this evening, Arun Gupta, President CCI said that the Chamber was able to stall the government’s plan to collect property tax last year but the government has yet again decided to implement the property tax from April 1, through a statutory order SO-87.
“At present 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 and Kashmir can get the ownership rights / lease rights. At present the people of Jammu are disturbed by non-cooperative attitude of the government. Instead of giving relief to the general public, government is imposing this property tax,” he said.
Gupta stressed that the business community has out rightly rejected imposition of property tax in the meeting held on Thursday in Chamber House.
“The Presidents of different Bazar and Trade Associations unanimously opposed the implementation of Property Tax and demanded immediate withdrawal of this SRO. They are of the firm opinion that if the government refuses to withdraw this SRO the Chamber should go for Jammu Bandh,” he said.
We are of the firm opinion that the states where the property tax is applicable, they are already developed state/UTs and our comparison with the nearby State/UT’s cannot be justified, 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“Chamber is of the firm opinion that this SRO should be withdrawn by the government to give a sigh of relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir UT. Further if the government fails to understand our feeling than we shall have no other option but to go for a bandh call by consulting civil societies, Bar Association and others,” he said.
