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India imposes property tax in disputed Kashmir

Sunday, 11 October 2020 11:45 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 12 October 2020 12:01 AM ]

Syed Ali Safvi

Press TV, Kashmir

Since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government stripped the Indian administered Kashmir of its autonomous constitution status more than a year ago, New Delhi has unilaterally introduced a slew of laws, which locals say are aimed at shifting the region’s demographics and economically disempower Kashmiris.

In a latest such order, India’s Home Ministry has empowered Kashmir administration to impose property tax on all types of land and buildings in the restive Himalayan region.

The order has evoked widespread condemnations here with political and civil activists saying that such moves will overburden the people and further worsen the already fragile economic situation in the region which witnesses frequent disturbances. The region’s political parties have also chipped in and blamed the government for misusing the laws and institutions.

Pertinently, since the abrogation of Kashmir’s special citizenship law, scores of non-resident Kashmiris have been granted domicile certificates under a new citizenship law. The certificate entitles a non-Kashmiri to job and residency which were otherwise reserved only for the locals.

Locals accuse New Delhi of using the law to settle non Muslims in Kashmir drawing parallels with the occupied West Bank. According to the 2011 census, Muslims constitute nearly 70% of the total population. Kashmir is a bone of contention between the nuclear armed arch rivals India and Pakistan. Both the countries claim the region in full, but rule it in parts.

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