HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA/ DIBRUGRAH, March 20: Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) Margherita regional committee on Monday staged dharna at Margherita Municipal Board office in protest against the hike of municipal tax in Margherita Municipal Board area.
Bimal Singh president, Rajiv Rongrang general of AJYCP Margherita regional committee, Kanchan Borah general secretary of AJYCP Tinsukia district committee and more than 100 members of AJYCP Margherita regional committee were present and shouted various slogans against the BJP led government at Assam.
Kanchan Borah said that after the formation of BJP led government both at the Union and state general people are suffering a lot and it is has become difficult to survive due to price inflation of essential commodities and now again without taking consent from the residents of Margherita municipal board area municipal taxes has increased which is inhuman and injustice.
Margherita Municipal Board’s duty is only to collect taxes because at Margherita Municipal Board area there is no toilet, no safe drinking water system hence after the formation of BJP led Margherita Municipal Board only collection of taxes has increased hence no development work took place said Kanchan Borah.
Kanchan Borah said that BJP always stand with corporate, capitalist and communal so this political party don’t bother about the feelings of general people and so we demand Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to immediately cancel the proposal of increasing municipal tax at all municipal area of Margherita otherwise AJYCP Margherita regional committee shall intensify strong agitation programme at Margherita Municipal Board area.
A memorandum was submitted to state chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through Margherita sub divisional officer (civil) where it was mentioned that Assam government housing and urban affairs department should immediately cancel the proposal of increasing municipal and town tax which has been decided on March 10 and under Assam Municipal Act 1956 municipal board and town committee officials of Assam must issue a circular to the general people regarding increasing of municipal/Town taxes through survey and within one month a public hearing must be held so that if any query or doubt arise than it must be taken seriously so that general people don’t suffer said Kanchan Borah.
On the other hand Jorhat district unit of AJYCP on Monday staged a demonstration at the Jorhat Municipal Board, (JMB) office building premises over the issue.
Holding banners and placards the protesters shouted slogans against the state government and JMB seeking withdrawal of the decision to increase the tax of the holdings from next financial year starting from April next.
Stating that people were already reeling due to soaring prices of essential commodities and adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the protesters sought that the civic body should not go for a huge increase in taxes.
They sought the JMB carry out a proper reassessment survey of the properties as per the Municipal Act norms and later provide sufficient time to the residents to file their claims and objections over proposed raise in the taxes.
Later, the students’ body sent a memorandum to the chief minister, through the Jorhat deputy commissioner’s office, seeking his intervention on the matter.
State AJYCP assistant general secretary Siba Kalita, Jorhat district unit president (In-charge) and general secretary Uttam Mahanta and Babu Dutta respectively, were among the office-bearers who took part in the protest.
