Former J&K CM and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said that he would re implement the Roshni Act if his party voted to power in the UT.

 

The Roshni Act grants ownership rights to the occupants. Enacted by the National Conference government in 2001, the Act was repealed in November 2018 by then governor Satya Pal Malik. However, the law was modified during Azad’s tenure as CM of J&K from 2005-2008.

 

In 2014, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report had pointed out that many political persons from different parties had been benefitted under the act.

 

Meanwhile, Azad said that the government should postpone the imposition of Property Tax for few years till the economic situation in the UT improves.

 

While addressing a rally, Azad said there is no job and the govt is now planning to close mines where thousands of people are working. Azad said the economic situation in J&K over the last 35 years has become bad because of `terrorism’.

 

My aim is to build J&K as a welfare state where the economy grows to an extent where people are willing to pay taxes themselves, he added.