- विज्ञापन -
Bengaluru: Karnataka Assembly Leader of Opposition (LoP) R Ashoka on Wednesday criticised the ruling Congress-led state government for burdening Bengaluru residents with excessive taxes and accused them of devising a scheme to extract revenue from garbage.
Speaking to reporters at BBMP, Ashoka claimed that Congress imposes the highest garbage tax in the entire country and said, “Congress has burdened Bengaluru residents with excessive taxes and accused them of devising a scheme to extract revenue from garbage. While Kempegowda earned the title of Nadaprabhu for building the state, Congress leaders have earned the title of those who ruined it.”
“The city previously had a cess. Now, a user fee has been added alongside it. The cess alone collects around Rs 250 crore. While the garbage tender is valued at Rs 147 crore, excessive fees are being collected from the public. With the user fee, the collection could reach Rs 500-600 crore,” Ashoka said.
He argued that either the user fee or the cess should be collected, but Bengaluru is being burdened with both. This will increase house rents, as well as rates for commercial buildings, marriage halls, hospitals, schools, and hotels.
“One tax will lead to an increase in all rates. Congress is looting Bengaluru residents. They use the excuse of a central government law, even though no central law mandates imposing two types of fees,” he claimed.
He urged the government to convene a meeting of Bengaluru MLAs to discuss this issue.
He said no other city imposes such high fees, and this is an “uncivilised move.”
“The taxes are being collected to fund Congress’s five guarantee schemes and demanded that the decision be withdrawn immediately,” he said.
He noted that Bengaluru residents have already started protests, and they will receive full support. He claimed that the state’s financial situation has deteriorated due to the guarantee schemes, and efforts are being made to reduce the number of beneficiaries. Only those who voted for Congress will benefit from the guarantee schemes, he alleged.
Earlier on Tuesday, R Ashoka visited the rain-affected areas of Sakleshpur in Hassan district and criticised the Congress-led state government for its lack of preparedness and negligence in dealing with the monsoon.
