Delhi's tax collection rose during AAP rule: Sisodia

The Delhi government's tax collection during the AAP's 49-day rule was higher than that of other quarters in the last financial year as the party did not harass businessmen by raids, party leader Manish Sisodia said Monday.

Sisodia said the Aam Aadmi Party would end raids by the VAT department officials who, he said, extorted money from businessmen in the national capital.

"In the fourth quarter of 2013-14, the Delhi government generated Rs.5,666 crore as tax revenue but in the next quarter (first quarter of 2012-13) it dipped to Rs.4,600 crore," Sisodia told reporters here.

After assuming power Dec 30, 2013, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal resigned as chief minister over the failure to pass an anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill in the assembly Feb 14. President's rule was imposed Feb 17.

"The tax generation was higher because the businessmen paid their taxes honestly during the AAP rule, no tax raids were conducted," he said.

The former education minister said he got these figures from government officials.

On Sunday's fund-raising luncheon which fetched the AAP over Rs.50 lakh, Sisodia said: "I met over 100 traders at the event and all of them said they were not extorted by taxmen during the AAP rule."

For the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, the AAP has been raising funds by hosting lunches and dinners. At a recent dinner in Mumbai, the party collected Rs.91 lakh.

Sisodia said people from small cities have also offered to hold fund-raising events.