Review decision on implementing property Tax in JK: JKAP’s Zulfikar tells Centre

Rajouri: Vice President Apni Party Ch. Zulfikar Ali today urged the Govt to review its decision to implement property tax in J&K.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday the Former Minister and Vice President Apni Party Ch. Zulfikar Ali said that imposing property tax in present circumstances is not suitable as people are already under economic distress.
The economy has suffered because of decline in tourism, industrial and other private sectors following the August 5, 2019 and Covid19 situation. “The people are not in a position to handle additional burden on their pockets on the name of property tax. In this view, the decision to impose the tax should be reviewed for the welfare of the people,” said Ch. Zulfikar Ali. He said that the previous Govts were also not ready to implement the property tax on the people of J&K due to unfavorable conditions.
“The deteriorating situation has to be given some time to improve and the Govt of India should help the erstwhile State to overcome the economic distress with financial support instead of going to impose tax,” he said. Following covid-19 situation in J&K, he said, the tourism sector has come to stand still and it has further aggravated the situation for the people associated with the sector.
Meanwhile, he appealed to the Govt of India to control petroleum price since it has hiked the rates of essential commodities. “The petrol/diesel price has gone all time high and the essential commodities have also become costly. In this situation, it would be hard for an average middle class family and poor people to feed two times-meal to their families. The Govt should initiate some steps to bring down petrol and diesel prices,” he said. He said that the LPG and other products of daily use have also become costly for the consumers and people at large are suffering with the price rise which should be controlled.