BJP, Cong part of nexus looting MCD in name of house tax: AAP

Cornered by the BJP and the Congress over promised abolition of residential house tax, the AAP today launched a counterattack alleging the two parties are part of "nexus looting MCD in the name of house tax".
The party also demanded the two parties make public their stand on the issue.
Dilip Pandey, AAP's Delhi unit convenor, said the BJP and the Congress attacks indicate they are "rattled" by the promise made by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in run to the MCD polls.
He said, the Opposition is "misleading and spreading rumours" that the Municipal Corporation cannot abolish residential house tax.

The notion that only the Parliament has the power to do so is false, he said.
Pandey claimed Delhi will be the first city in the country to not have residential house tax after April 26, the day of the MCD poll results.

"BJP-Congress misleading people on house tax abolition. MCDs empowered to exempt Delhi citizens from paying House Tax. BJP-Congress must clarify their position on House Tax in Delhi," Pandey said.
The BJP and Congress are frustrated by the response received from the people over the promise of abolishing House Tax in Delhi, he said.
"The only reason for the BJP's and the Congress' Opposition to this promise is because both parties are part of a nexus that has been looting the MCDs under the name of House Taxes," he alleged.

Kejriwal announced last week that after winning the MCD elections, the AAP will abolish residential house tax.
"The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act (1957), the Act of Parliament, which created the Municipal Council of Delhi clearly states under Section 177 General Power of Exemption, the Corporation can exempt either wholly or in part from the payment of any tax levied under this Act, any class of persons or any class of property or goods," he said.
Revision of tax rates have been done in the past without any Parliament amendments being required, Pandey said.