AAP leaders a bunch of liars: Manoj Tiwari

New Delhi: Days after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal promised abolition of house tax if his party was voted to power in the upcoming municipal elections, Delhi BJP on Monday released two letters sent by the Delhi government to the municipal corporations, directing them to increase property tax rates, increase the ambit of taxable properties, and removal of ad hoc sanitation workers. To this effect, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said that Mr Kejriwal, his government, and his party are a bunch of liars who have mastered the art of befooling people with bluffs and his Saturday’s press conference on municipal corporations was nothing but a part of a series of bluffs. Mr Tiwari alleged that Mr Kejriwal on Saturday morning misused the government residence and facilities to make some announcements related to the policy matters of the municipal corporations. He urged the State Election Commission to take suo motto cognisance and act to restrain the chief minister from future misuse. “Such announcements, loaded with political honey points, coming from a chief minister are an indirect violation of the model code of conduct too,” he alleged. Mr Kejriwal on Saturday announced that once in power in the municipal corporations, AAP will exempt all residential properties from the ambit of property tax apart from ensuring regular salary payment to the staff.

Presenting a copy of the letters, Delhi BJP president claimed that the Kejriwal government had asked them to implement increased property taxes as per the Municipal Valuation Committee report and to extend the ambit of properties covered for property tax realisation. The letter has also directed the civic bodies to remove ad hoc sanitation workers and other Class 4 staff. “Delhiites have no faith on Mr Kejriwal’s words as they have pretty well seen the fate of his pre 2015 promises,” added Mr Tiwari.

Taking the CM on his promises of exemption from paying property tax, Mr Tiwari pointed out that talks of exemption from payment of property tax on residential properties has already been thought for smaller properties by East and North MCD and they have passed resolutions to this effect.