BJP now wrests nagar panchayat from Congress

Dharamshala, Feb 17 (UNI) The BJP has now wrested chairmanship of Jawalamukhi Nagar Panchayat in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh from the Congress.

Ms Manisha Sharma (BJP) was unanimously elected president of the Jawalamukhi Nagar Panchayat after Ms Babli Sharma (Cong) was removed through a no-confidence motion recently.

Later, while talking to mediapersons yesterday, Ms Sharma urged the state government to abolish house tax in this holy town.

Seeking special status for this town, she urged the new BJP Government in the state to chalk out a comprehensive plan for its overall development.

The state government should bear the financial burden of the Nagar Panchayat by allocating special funds in the annual budget plan of the next financial year, she added.

Ms Sharma said instead of continuing to tax the people of the town the government should provide additional funds to the panchayat to tide over the financial crises.

Demanding the setting up of a high-level committee to study the historical background of the town and bring it on the international map of pilgrimage, she said this was important since it attracted a large number of pilgrims from all over the world.

"Inspite of earning huge sum of money from the visiting pilgrims in the form of donations in the temples and taxes, the town is lacking in even the basic amenities," she added.

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