Hike in land tax blatantly anti-farmer: Pamplany

Kozhikode: Thalassery archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany lashed out against hike in land tax announced by state govt in the budget. He said it was blatantly anti-farmer, attempted to strangle farmers to raise funds to provide more benefits to govt employees and so could not be accepted.Pamplany was inaugurating the Catholic Congress Thalassery archdiocese leadership meeting at Chemperi in Kannur district.Finance minister KN Balagopal had increased land tax across all slabs by around 50% with the lowest slab being increased from Rs 5 per are to Rs 7.5 per are. The highest slab has been increased from Rs 30 per are to Rs 45 per are.Pamplany said there would be strong protests against the decision to raise land tax for farmers, who work hard to earn a living, in the coming days."If the finance minister thinks that increasing tax for land of farmers as a big source of revenue for govt, then it means that govt is not considerate towards the farmers and does not understand their greatness. The stand of financially stifling farmers to increase the salary of govt officials is anti- farmer," he said.There were no proposals to provide relief to farmers in the hilly regions in both state and Union budgets, he added.Pamplany said if anyone was thinking they could take advantage of minor crises the Church is facing and could destroy it by taking advantage of that through social media, the Church wouldn't allow it and would respond strongly.Catholic Congress global director Fr Philip Kavil said that the leadership meeting was the first step in indicating the stance the Catholic community would take in the upcoming elections. Those who reject the community's demands will be rejected by both the Church and society, while those who support the Catholic community will be supported, he added.