North Delhi civic body planning to raise house tax: Durgesh Pathak

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party functionary Durgesh Pathak on Thursday stated that BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation wanted to waive off taxes from advertisements and parking, and to compensate these, they want to hike house tax by a whopping 34 per cent.
“The corporation is planning to increase house tax levied on citizens to 34% and to waive off the taxes earned through offline advertising by way of banners and posters, and parking in Delhi.BJP is proposing to waive off taxes earned in crores paid by parking and advertising contractors which can actually be utilised in paying salaries of front-line heroes working in hospitals," Pathak said in a press conference.
The AAP functionary claimed that the contractors have close relations with BJP ministers and are pressuring them to waive this tax off. “To fill the gap created by that, BJP is increasing house tax which is paid by the innocent common people,” Pathak said, calling it an insensitive government.
AAP opposed the move to hike house tax and demanded that the taxes from advertisement and parking should not be waived off. “We appeal to the BJP to act sensibly and withdraw their proposals,” Pathak said.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor rejected Pathak's remarks and stated that none of the three civic bodies have approved any proposal to raise house tax. “The relaxation in advertising and parking fees are concerned for the total lockdown period when there was no business,” Kapoor said.