Says Mutton Dealers Should Not Be Punished for Using the Highway; Terms Punjab’s tax on J&K mutton traders “completely unjust”, warns of taking issue to North Zone Council and Centre if unresolved
Srinagar, June 29:
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the Jammu and Kashmir Government has strongly taken up the issue of taxation on mutton dealers with the Punjab Government, terming the levy “completely unjust.”
Speaking to reporters at SKICC, Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, CM Omar said he had personally raised the matter with the Punjab Chief Minister several months ago and has again written to the government seeking its resolution.
He said Jammu and Kashmir’s mutton traders merely use Punjab highways to transport livestock purchased from Rajasthan to Jammu and Kashmir and are neither buying nor selling goods within Punjab.
“Our mutton dealers should not be punished for simply using the highway. This tax is completely unjust with our people,” Omar said.
He added that if the issue is not resolved by the Punjab Government, the matter will be raised before the North Zone State Council while seeking intervention from the Central Government.
Calling it an “illegal tax,” the Chief Minister said there is no justification for imposing such charges when no commercial transaction takes place within Punjab.
“We hope justice will be done. If not, we will pursue the matter at every appropriate forum,” he said. (JKNS)