Handwara, May 08 (KNO) : Asking for immediate roll back of toll tax at Sangam Toll Plaza, AIP President Er Rasheed Wednesday said that the move is an indirect attack on the special status of state and also a brazen attempt to further weaken the state economy.
In a statement issued to KNO, Er Rasheed said, “Paying taxes is no doubt duty of every citizen but first government needs to introspect the fact that J&K is passing through turmoil since long and government has itself failed miserably to provide better roads to the people of state.”
He said the worst condition of Jammu-Baramulla highway should be an eye opener for the government before beginning in the name of toll tax. “It is disgusting that by just constructing few kilometers of proposed four lane road government has started showing arrogance and by imposing toll tax the burden on common man will increase further. While it is difficult for civilian traffic to operate on most of the roads due to their poor condition, security forces have also made it impossible for commoners to travel even from one village to another on the said so called national highway,” he said.
Er Rasheed further added “Before giving National High Way Authority of India (NHAI) permission to collect toll tax, government should have taken consent of state legislature and by not doing so Centre is trying to impose its writ on the state in violation to special status, J&K is enjoying. Government should not also forget the fact that J&K is a violence hit state and state economy is also in shambles as such it must immediately withdraw the orders without excuses”.(KNO)