Wealth tax: Bajwa flays Akalis

Punjab Congress Chief Partap Singh Bajwa today came down heavily on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for misleading people on the issue of wealth tax and said Akalis are spreading misinformation and holding protests only to make political gains out of a non-issue.
In a statement here, Bajwa said that the amendment in the law to impose wealth tax on agriculture land was merely a proposal and it has not been passed by the Parliament.
He assured the farming community that Punjab Congress would not allow this proposal to be cleared.
The Badals are merely trying to create panic by spreading rumours that IT department has started issuing notices for collection of wealth tax from farmers, he said.

The IT department has issued notices to only specific individuals in Jalandhar in connection with a Supreme Court judgement (in the case of Gurdip Singh Nagra) relating to an amendment of 1993 and not the current proposed amendment, Bajwa said.
Farmers' interest is top priority for Congress and PPCC is very clear on its priorities, he stated adding, the PPCC unanimously opposed the proposed amendment.
Bajwa said he would be meeting AICC president Sonia Gandhi on Monday and inform her about the views of Punjab Congress.
"Being a farmer myself, I appeal to farmers not to panic, wealth tax will not be imposed," he added.