The Hindu : BJP misleading people on house tax, alleges Sheila

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

BJP misleading people on house tax, alleges Sheila

By Our Staff Reporter

The Delhi Assembly Speaker, Ajay Maken, and the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, arriving on the opening day of Assembly Session in Delhi on Wednesday. (Right) BJP workers protesting outside the Assembly against the deteriorating water and power si tuation. Photos: Sandeep Saxena

NEW DELHI, MARCH 24. Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of "misleading" the Capital's citizens on the proposed new Unit Area Method of house tax by spreading false propaganda about massive rise in tax liability, the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit today asserted that nobody had been troubled beyond his means. "It is a progressive step aimed at rooting out corruption, allowing the people to self-assess their own property tax liability by putting an end to the involvement of inspector raj in the whole system."

Intervening during the debate on an adjournment motion moved by the BJP on the issue of house tax, the Chief Minister said that the basic aim of the whole exercise was to rationalise the property tax structure that had become cumbersome, outdated and impractical. Asserting that at no point of time had she stated that the property tax would come down drastically, the Chief Minister said that the rationalisation meant that in some cases it could go up and in some it could come down. Refusing to bow to the demand of the opposition BJP that the implementation of the UAM should be deferred from the April 1 deadline, Mr. Dikshit said the UAM had the backing of the BJP-led Central Government and everything on the issue had been done with the advice and consent of the Union Government. In fact, the Union Law Ministry insisted upon the issue of incorporating the clause of imprisonment for failure to pay tax. She said that this new progressive system would put an end to the concept of inspector raj and with it lead to transparency in collection and payment of property tax. It is an historical step aimed at bringing transparency where people assess themselves the tax liability and not the inspector of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Ms. Dikshit said that nobody has been troubled beyond his means and all the talk about massive hike in the tax liability was nothing but a canard being spread by the BJP and its leaders in Delhi. In fact, by going against the UAM, the BJP leaders were opposing the consent of their own Union Government to the whole concept. Accepting that there could be problems with regard to certain categories and some section of the society, the Chief Minister said that is why the "Hardship and Anomalies Committee" was being put in place from April 1 to look into all the grievances. "It would be a sad thing and not in the interest of the people of Delhi if we attempt to shelve the progressive system. This is an attempt to empower the people and put an end to their continued rounds of the MCD offices," she remarked.

Replying to the debate, the Urban Development Minister, A.K. Walia, said the BJP had been opposing reforms in all the sectors in Delhi. In fact, the UAM regime had been put in place under the "Urban Reforms Agenda" concept of the Union Government and the Delhi Government had been assured of incentives in the field of urban development and local governance. He said it had become a habit with the Delhi BJP leaders to oppose everything that is positive and for the welfare of the people.

Reminding the BJP that the voters of Delhi in the Assembly polls had only recently rejected them, Dr. Walia said if they do not mend their ways, they would face the same fate in the Lok Sabha polls.

Initiating the motion, the Leader of the Opposition, Jagdish Mukhi, alleged that the new house tax regime would increase the liability on the common man from five times to 50 times. He said no logic had been applied while categorising the various colonies and areas that had led to vast anomalies in the new system.

Mr. Mukhi said keeping in mind the problems that had cropped up due to the introduction of the new regime, he said that the April 1 deadline should be deferred and a consensus should be evolved on the issue. At the same time, he threatened that the BJP would urge people not to pay their taxes and boycott the new property tax regime if the Delhi Government does not adhere to the BJP's demand.

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