Property tax on slum dwellers unjustified, says Ajay Maken

New Delhi: Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken on Wednesday slammed the BJP-ruled civic bodies for issuing notices to slum dwellers and directing them to deposit property tax of 12 years.

Mr Maken said that the MCD was not providing any basic civic amenities in the JJ cluster, but wants them to deposit property tax of 12 years. 

“In the manifesto, the BJP had said that they would not charge any tax from the slum dwellers. The party had promised to abolish property tax in Delhi. But after winning the MCD elections,  the BJP is showing its true colours,” Mr Maken alleged. 

The people, who live in the JJ clusters, provide cheap services to the people of Delhi by selling vegetables and fruits at cheap rates, providing cheap labour, house  maids and workers. It is indeed a shame that property tax is being charged from such people, which is not justified,” he said 

Mr Maken further said that the Delhi Congress will write to the MCD commissioner and the L-G in this regard. He said that if the tax notices issued to the JJ clusters were not withdrawn, they will be forced to hold a demonstration at Civic Centre.

Quoting a property tax notice issued by the SDMC August 16 to one Munsi Lal, resident of D-155, Bhoomihin Camp, DDA Flat, Kalkaji-110019, the Congress leader said that Mr Lal has been asked to file property tax returns for the years 2004-05 to 2016-17 under the unit area method. 

And if the same was not paid within 30 days, he will be liable to pay penalty at 30 per cent and interest at the rate of one per cent per month, the notice said.