BJP claims of not sending prop tax notice to Akshardham false: Con

New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) Describing as false claims of the BJP that MCD had not sent any property tax recovery notice to the Akshardham temple authorities, Leader of the Opposition in the MCD Jaikishen Sharma today alleged that the ruling party in the MCD was trying to befool people of Delhi through such denials.

Addressing a joint press meet along with Standing Committee members Suresh Jatav. former Leader of the House Jitender Kochar and former Chairman of the MCD Standing Committee Mukesh Goyal, Mr Jaikishen Sharma alleged that contrary to the claims by the BJP establishment, MCD was all set to recover property tax from the Akshardham Temple authorities.

But for the issue being highlighted in the media, the notice for recovery of property tax would have been in the hands of the Akshardham temple authorities, they alleged.

The Congress Councillors alleged that the MCD property tax department had send a notice under sections 123A and 123B of the DMC Act to the Akshardham temple for non-recovery of property tax. The notice warned that in case the tax was not paid within a month, the Akshardham temple authorities would have to pay 30 per cent fine under section 123D of the MCD.

On July 3, the temple administrattion wrote a letter to MCD requesting exemption from payment of property tax saying that it was a charitable organisation given exemption under section 80 G(5) of the Income tax act.

It also said the Delhi Government had given it exemption from entertainment tax.

The Congress councillors alleged that the MCD rejected the plea of the Akshardham authorities and sent it another notice on July 10 asking for a copy of its lease, building plan, sanction plan letter and also total covered area of building.

''The whole episode has unravelled the real face of the BJP which has played politics in the name of Lord Ram, ''Mr Sharma said, presenting before mediapersons copies of the MCD notices to Akshardham temple.

The Congress leaders called for resignation of the ruling BJP councillors for sending notice to a religious place and then trying to deny the whole matter in public.

UNI