Chandigarh: Anti-people move, says Congress on hike in property conversion charges
The Congress' local unit has condemned the 'arbitrary and steep' hike in charges for converting leasehold properties into freehold by the administration. HS Lucky, president of the Chandigarh Pradesh Congress Committee, termed the decision as 'anti-people'. This would severely impact thousands of residents who have long been awaiting regularisation of their properties, he said. Congress leader HS Lucky also highlighted increase in property tax, water charges, etc.
'After the threefold hike in property tax, increased water charges and rising electricity bills, the administration has now issued a new draconian order. This move will break the backbone of middle-class families, senior citizens and small property owners,' he said.
'This decision by the BJP-led administration is utterly insensitive and has been taken without any public consultation. The people of Chandigarh are already facing immense financial stress. This sudden hike, without any discussion or clarification, raises serious questions about the priorities of the administration,' he said, adding that the conversion fee must be nominal and equitable.
The administration has already stated that a notification on the revised rates would be issued soon and implemented on June 30.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
20 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Delhi Confidential: No child's play
Congress MP from Saharanpur Imran Masood has received a letter from an unexpected quarter: a group of children from Masoodabad colony in his constituency. The letter, signed by 21 children, requested the MP to get a plot, owned by him, cleaned so that they can play on it as they don't have any other 'open space nearby'. It mentioned that amid the overgrown grass on the plot, two snakes were spotted recently, causing fear among them as well as their parents. 'We request you to kindly have the plot cleaned and maintained so that we can play there without any fear,' read the letter. Masood, on his part, said he has promised the children to get the plot cleaned soon. Meet Expectations The courtesy meetings of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda in the Capital on Saturday happened within days of the two Deputy CMs of the state — Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak — meeting the party's Central leaders in Delhi. While Pathak met Shah on July 17, Maurya met him on July 8. Maurya also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and later called on UP Governor Anandiben Patel in Lucknow. These back-to-back meetings with UP government's top three leaders has created a buzz that a decision on the new UP BJP president will be taken soon. Also, a reshuffle of the UP Cabinet may be on the cards to maintain regional and caste balance ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls, said sources. Bureaucratic Churn The Capital's bureaucratic circles are abuzz with discussions about changes on two significant posts — Delhi Police Commissioner and Chief Secretary of the city government — which are scheduled to be vacated following the superannuation of 1988-batch Tamil Nadu-cadre IPS officer Sanjay Arora and 1989-batch AGMUT-cadre IAS officer Dharmendra in the coming months. Arora will retire on July 31, while Dharmendra will demit office in September. These bureaucratic changes are happening at a time when the BJP has its own government in the Capital, drawing more attention to the potential choices of successors of the two officers.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Teen gang-raped by 2 while returning home from b'day party; both held
Kendrapada: An 18-year-old dalit girl was gang-raped by two men in Jagatsinghpur district while she was returning home after attending a birthday party at her cousin's place on Monday evening. Jagatsinghpur superintendent of police Bhawani Sankar Udgata said one of the accused was arrested from Cuttack on Tuesday morning, while the other, who was on the run, was arrested at night from a hideout in the district. Both are from the same village. While the one arrested from Cuttack is 23 years old, the other is 22. Police said the girl was reportedly waylaid by the duo, who dragged her to a secluded field and allegedly raped her multiple times. They also threatened to kill her if she disclosed the assault. "Primary medical reports have confirmed rape and serious injuries to her private parts," Udgata said. The girl is undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital and her condition is said to be serious. "She passed her HSC exam two years back but couldn't go to college due to financial issues. Two miscreants have ruined her life," said the girl's father (56), a daily wager. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo She is one of three daughters. A case has been registered under different sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including gang-rape. Police have formed three special teams to investigate the case. The incident has triggered a political outcry, with opposition parties accusing the BJP govt of failing to ensure women's safety. Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das, who led a BJD delegation to meet the survivor, said, "Women and girls are not feeling safe due to the govt's slipshod attitude." BJP MLA Amarendra Das defended the govt, stating that police are "leaving no stone unturned" in their investigation.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Cong, BJP spar as posters come up of arrested NSUI state chief with Rahul
Bhubaneswar: A day after National Students' Union of India's state president Udit Narayan Pradhan was arrested on charges of raping a 19-year-old student in the city, posters have surfaced throughout Bhubaneswar displaying images of the suspended Congress member alongside Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi. The giant posters have come up at prominent places including Janpath, sparking heated exchanges between the Congress and BJP . State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das accused the BJP of having orchestrated this poster campaign to defame the party. "We are certain about BJP's involvement in this negative poster campaign against the Congress. This indicates BJP's apprehension towards Congress, which has strengthened its protests regarding the reported rise in crimes against women," Das said. "BJP cannot stifle our voice. Women safety is our biggest focus. Our protest will be intensified in the coming days," he added even as another Congress member criticised the BMC for not pulling down such unauthorised posters. The Congress formed a six-member committee on Monday to investigate the allegations against Pradhan. The party indicated it would support strict action if the charges were proven true. Responding strongly to the allegations, BJP MLA Babu Singh said, "Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo The arrest of Udit Pradhan has exposed the double standard of Congress on issues of women's safety." Avilash Panda, state president of BJP's youth wing, criticised Congress for appointing Pradhan as NSUI Odisha president. "Days before his appointment (Aug 2024), he was arrested in a criminal case in Bhubaneswar. Still, the Congress made him the NSUI state president," Panda said. Amid the BJP-Congress confrontation over Pradhan's arrest, BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed concern over an alleged increase in crimes against women. "A disturbing wave of crimes against women is gripping Odisha. This surge in sexual assaults reflects a troubling erosion of law enforcement. When various ranks of the police face interference and political pressure, accountability weakens — and women and girls pay the price first," Naveen wrote in a social media post.
