Congress threatens agitation against introduction of house tax

Jaipur, Dec 12 (UNI) Rajasthan Congress today threatened an agitation if the BJP led Municipal Corporation of Jaipur tried to enforce collection of house tax from the people of the pinc city and appealed to the people to resist from paying the tax.

Congress leader Pratap Singh Kachariyawas, while addressing a press conference here today, said, the BJP won the election in the state on the promise of abolition of house tax. ''The BJP promised the abolition of house tax both during the Assembly and parliamentary elections. The Vasundhara Raje government had completed three years in office but it is yet to fulfil the promise given to the people,'' he said.

Mr Kachariyawas said the BJP led Municipal Corporation of Jaipur has given a contract to Oswal Data Infosis for collecting the house tax at a whopping Rs 6 crore.

He said, ''Instead of taking steps for the abolition of house tax the corporation awarded contract to a firm for collecting the house tax.'' He also alleged irregularities in awarding contract to the firm at a high rate.

He said the BJP government in the state and the civic body are at loggerheads. ''While the Urban Development minister says the government had not ordered the collection of house tax the Minicipal Corporation claim that house tax is the exclusive purview of the corporation and the government had no role in it.'' He asked the state government to clear the confusion over the issue.

The congress leader said the district Congress committee(city) would organise a 'padyatra' on December 16 against the move in the city.

UNI PJJ YA HS1528