To protest against the recently proposed hike in property tax and imposition of a new “professional tax”, Leader of Opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi Jai Kishan Sharma along with other Congress members staged a dharna at Town Hall here on Tuesday.
The Municipal Commissioner had proposed a hike of 5 per cent in the rates of property tax in all categories and fixing of 20 per cent property tax on non-residential properties given on rent and on higher categories of properties in non-residential category including three star and above category of hotels, malls, air-conditioned gyms, swimming pools and clubs.
Mr. Sharma said the proposal doesn’t have any rationale as the colonies in lower categories have to pay almost double the existing property tax while the colonies in better category have to pay only 50 per cent in addition.
He also strongly condemned the proposal of levying professional tax on individual professionals including business men, factory owners, doctors, lawyers and architects at the rate of Rs.500 to Rs.2,500 per annum.
“Since the last two and half years, the ruling BJP in the MCD has been blaming the Delhi Government for price rise, but it itself is enhancing the rate of property tax putting an extra economic burden on the citizens of Delhi at a time of economic recession,” he added.
