Civic bodies broke tax abolition promise: Maken

The Delhi Congress today charged the BJP-ruled municipal corporations with issuing property tax notices to residents of JJ clusters, going back on its promise of abolishing taxes in its manifesto for MCD polls in April this year.
Congress will stage a protest at the Civic Centre, housing South and North Delhi Municipal Corporations, next week demanding withdrawal of the notices, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said.
"The BJP-ruled MCDs are issuing property tax notices to JJ Clusters demanding taxes for 12 years without providing basic civic amenities to their residents, which is a shame," Maken said in a press conference.

He showed a copy of notice issued to a resident of Bhoomihin Camp (Kalkaji) under South Delhi Municipal Corporation as evidence of his charge.
"After winning the MCD elections for three corporations now BJP is showing its true colour. In its manifesto, the BJP had promised to abolish property tax in Delhi," he said.
The BJP had won 181 of the 272 wards in the elections for three municipal corporations held in April this year.

Maken also alleged that the corporations were marred by "corruption" and the BJP leaders there were not tapping available sources of revenue generation and "harassing" poor people.

"The corporations should end wide-spread corruption in them. If they properly utilize their vast land, they can generate enough revenue to run their affairs without collecting property tax from the poor people," he said.
Maken said he will write to the Lt Governor Anil Baijal and commissioners of the municipal corporations for withdrawal of tax notices to JJ clusters.