AAP reiterates no house tax claims
Defending his party’s promise of exempting house tax if the AAP won next month’s civic polls, Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday reasserted the AAP’s claim that Union minister Vijay Goel was unduly benefitted by a similar tax waiver by the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation.
“If house tax of BJP leader Vijay Goel’s haveli could be waived off, then why can’t the same be done for the common people of Delhi,” Mr Sisodia said. His party had earlier rubbished BJP’s claim that the house taxes can’t be exempted without the Parliament’s nod.
It may be recalled that the AAP in August last year had alleged that the NDMC had waived off taxes of over 750 heritage buildings to benefit Haveli Dharampura — which is in the name of Mr Goel’s son.
“If the House (MCD) can waive off tax of a BJP leader’s haveli, then why does one need to go to Parliament to do the same for common people?” Mr Sisodia said. “Why are the rules different for the common people and the politicians?” he added.
If voted to power in the civic elections, the AAP will use the same rules and powers to exempt house tax for Delhi’s common man, Mr Sisodia said. The AAP rivals, the BJP which rules the three civic bodies, and the Congress, had earlier criticised the tax waiver announcement by the chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The tax sop can’t be offered without Parliament amending the Delhi municipal corporation act, the parties said.