KNB News Desk
Srinagar, June 29(KNB): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the Jammu and Kashmir Government will not allow the concerns of mutton traders to go unheard, asserting that the issue of taxation imposed by the Punjab Government has already been taken up at the highest level and, if necessary, will be escalated before the Central Government and the North Zone Council.
Addressing reporters on the sidelines of an event at SKICC, Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said the tax imposed on J&K-based mutton dealers is “completely unjust” as the traders are only transporting livestock through Punjab after purchasing it from Rajasthan and are not conducting any trade within Punjab.
The Chief Minister said he had personally discussed the matter with his Punjab counterpart several months ago and has recently written to the Punjab Government again, urging it to withdraw the levy and resolve the issue at the earliest.
Stating that J&K’s mutton dealers are merely using the national highway as a transit route, Omar said there is no legal or logical basis for taxing them when no commercial transaction takes place within Punjab.
He maintained that such a levy amounts to an unnecessary burden on traders and should be reconsidered without delay.
Omar Abdullah further said that in case the matter remains unresolved, the Jammu and Kashmir Government will raise it before the North Zone Council and also seek intervention from the Central Government to ensure justice for the affected traders.
“We are hopeful that the Punjab Government will address the issue. However, if it fails to do so, we will pursue every available constitutional and administrative forum to protect the interests of our people,” the Chief Minister said. (KNB)