BJP to stage dharna against MC decisions

Chandigarh Newsline
Chandigarh, November 10: THE local unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will sit on a dharna in front of the office of the Municipal Corporation against the alleged anti-people decisions of the Congress-led MC, on November 12. The dharna will start at 10.30 am and continue till the House proceedings end. The decision was taken at a party meeting yesterday night.
Stating this here today, party chief Yash Pal Mahajan said the dharna will be against the delay in withdrawing MC's anti-people decisions like hike in water tariff, introduction of paid parking, increase in community centre tariff and harassment of footpath workers. ...
Former MP Satya Pal Jain, who was also present at the press briefing, accused MP Pawan Kumal Bansal of using MC employees and machinery to compile details of candidates for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. Showing an MC letter relating to the removal of pharis from Sector 38, he accused both mayor Subhash Chawla and Bansal for their doublespeak on demolitions. Instead of accepting moral responsibility for demolitions, they had accused the BJP-led government at the Centre which was uncalled for, he added, and alleged that the principal of the Mauli Jagran school was forced to make 200 students attend the rally addressed by Bansal. The principal was also honoured for making the rally a great success, he further alleged. ...

BJP stir against property tax tomorrow

Chandigarh Tribune
Former local MP Satya Pal Jain addresses a press conference at the local BJP office, Kamalam, Sector 33, Chandigarh, on Monday. (Image Courtesy: The Tribune)

Chandigarh, November 10: The local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today accused the Congress of doublespeak on the issue of demolitions. The BJP said it would stage a dharna to protest against the imposition of property tax in the city on November 12.
Satya Pal Jain, former local MP of the BJP, announced this at a press conference today. He was accompanied by the president of the unit, BJP Mr Yashpal Mahajan and the leader of the Opposition in the MC, Mrs Kamla Sharma.
Mr Jain said the BJP at its meeting yesterday decided to oppose the Congress and start a jan andolan.
Mr Jain distributed photocopies of the letter dated May 29 this year which has been sent from the MC to the Estate office. The letter says that the Land Acquisition Officer has been asked to give a date for an anti- encroachment drive. He said the Congress had no reason to blame the BJP for the demolition drive. ...

Traders scream Black Day

Chandigarh Newsline
CHANDIGARH, November 7 - THE traders, under the banner of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal today burnt the effigy of the Rent Notification issued by the UT Administration. The notification scrapped the Rent Restriction Act on buildings rented at more than Rs 1,500 per month. They also observed Black Day today and criticised the Administration for its delay in withdrawing the controversial notification issued in favour of landlords.
Addressing the traders at Sector 17 Plaza, ex-MP Satya Pal Jain said the BJP was in favour of the Balance Model Rent Act. Seeking the removal of eviction clause that leads to uncertainty in the minds of tenant traders, Jain also advocated a suitable increase in the rent of buildings so that the landlords could get a reasonable return of their investment in real estate.
On November 7, 2002, the Chandigarh Administration had notified fresh Rent Notification, scrapping Punjab East Rent Restriction Act from buildings rented at more than Rs 1,500 per month. This lead to a series of bandhs, rallies, meetings and dharnas.
The traders also wore black badges and raised anti-Administration slogans. Those who spoke on the occasion included CHB chief Jagdish Lal Arora, Jagdish Kalra, Kamaljeet Panchhi, Diwakar Sahoonja, L.C. Arora, among others.
Meanwhile, the Commercial Tenants Association has resorted to a hunger strike at Matka Chowk. Association chairman Arvind Jain said they were observing November 7 as the 'Killer Day'.

BJP reprimands Cong on property tax issue

Chandigarh Tribune
Chandigarh, November 4: Charging the Congress party with borrowing time on the issue of levying property tax till the general election next year, a former BJP Member of Parliament, Mr Satya Pal Jain, today asked the Congress-dominated corporation to annul all its earlier recommendations on levying of new taxes.
"If the corporation thinks that levying of the property tax was against the city residents, it should withdraw the paid parking, roll back the hike in water charges and reduce the fee for renting community centres", said Mr Jain at a press conference here today.
From promising a tax-free regime to recommending property tax at a rate of 2 per cent and now announcement to "outrightly" reject the levy the new tax, the Congress leaders have been changing their stand. Mr Jain said yesterday's announcement by the Member of Parliament, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, was out of political compulsions. The BJP doubts the intentions of the Congress on the issue, he added.
Showing a copy of the statement of Mr Bansal, which was read out an a meeting of the General House on January 29, 2003, Mr Jain said the former had recommended imposition of property tax. He alleged that the MP had an inconsistent approach, was misleading the city residents and was in a habit of disowning what did not suit him. ...