No need to amend law, MCDs empowered to waive tax: Sisodia

Hitting out at the opposition parties for raising questions over the efficacy of AAP’s electoral promise of house tax waiver, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia clarified on Wednesday that the municipal corporations can give tax exemptions.

Addressing reporters at the party headquarters, Sisodia asked the BJP to stop spreading “rumours” as there are several proofs in the public domain to show that the BJP-ruled North MCD had extended waivers to several properties in the past.

“Only last year, the North MCD exempted property tax for properties in Old Delhi by declaring them heritage buildings. It included building owned by BJP senior leader Vijay Goel. We would like to assure the BJP that we will provide exemptions under the same rules as done in the case of its senior leader,” Sisodia said.

Goel said this shows AAP’s frustration and ignorance, the party leaders were spreading lies and misconceptions just to garner votes.

“It was the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Board (SRDC) headed deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, which had recommended property tax and VAT exemption for heritage havelis to promote tourism in old Delhi. There is a high level committee, which clears the proposal. They should have applied their mind before raising the matter. In fact, there is also a proposal of the Delhi government to provide grant in aid for redevelopment of heritage,” the union minister said.

The BJP and the Congress have been targeting the AAP over the announcement ever since its national convener Arvind Kejriwal made the announcement of waiving house tax, besides clearing all pending tax if his party wins the municipal elections.

At a press conference on March 27, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari accused the AAP dispensation off “doublespeak” saying that while on one hand the AAP government has been advising the BJP-ruled MCDs of broadening its house tax net as they battled financial crisis, the party has announced waiver ahead of the polls.

Sisodia, however, said on Wednesday that the AAP government has done all the homework and it was not difficult to waive off the tax if corruption is plugged in the civic bodies.

“There are several other avenues to augment revenues. The house tax need to be waived as it has become a tool of extortion, both against those who pay tax and also those who don’t,” said Sisodia.

“We have showed it in Delhi government that the fiscal health of government does not gets affected by rationalizing tax and giving waivers. We will do the same in MCDs,” the deputy CM said.