'House tax abolition feasible, will be implemented properly'

Reiterating the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) stand to abolish house tax of residential properties in the Capital, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday said that the promise is feasible and will be implemented properly if voted to power in the upcoming Municipal polls.

Sisodia also attacked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress – the two parties which have been running Corporations for more than two decades – for claiming that Parliamentry approval is needed for waiving off house taxes.

"Both BJP and Congress have been saying that abolition of house tax is not possible as the civic bodies are not entitled to scrap it, which is an absolutely misleading statement. The MCDs, under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, have powers to scrap the tax and no Parliamentary approval is required," said the Deputy CM.

Alleging that the Oppostion parties have their vested interest in the House, Sisodia said: "Our assurance of house tax abolishment and waiving off of arrears was made after study of laws and finances. Citizens of Delhi are happy with the announcement as they realize the racket involved in house tax."

"The reason politicians are so unhappy with our announcement is that they are directly or indirectly connected to a web of agents who extort money in the name of getting house tax bills settled and assessed," Sisodia added.

"During the assembly elections, when AAP promised to reduce electricity rates to half, both these parties had similar reactions – they said it was impossible to do so, but we did it. When we had promised free water, BJP and Congress had said that this will turn Jal Board bankrupt. However, the Jal Board made an additional revenue of Rs. 178 crore after the scheme. They reacted in the same way to AAP's promises of improving government schools, regulating private school fees, regulating admission processes, ensuring hospitals work better. In the last two years, we have proven that we have fulfilled all the promises," added the Deputy CM.

Sisodia also alleged that the Corporations have made fraudulent pendencies on citizens with regards to house tax and citizens face a lot of harassment due to its complicated process of assessment.

The energy wasted in the process of collecting this house tax is not any way commensurate to the amount collected.

Sisodia said they were amazed by the reaction of the Opposition after Kejriwal, on Saturday, declared the house tax abolition promise.

"The Congress has ruled the MCD in the past and the BJP is currently in power. Both seem to be shamefully unaware of law and also seem oblivious to the difficulties faced by Delhi citizens," Sisodia added.