
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


New Indian Express
2 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
TN CM Stalin slams SIR, vows to fight it with ‘democratic weapons'
CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday came down heavily on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar by charging that the revision is being misused to quietly remove voters from disadvantaged communities, thus tilting the balance in favour of the BJP. 'This is not about reform. It is about engineering outcomes,' Stalin said in his post on X handle. Stating that what happened in Bihar reveals 'the Delhi regime' knows the same electorate that once voted for it would vote it out, the chief minister said,'That is why it is trying to stop them from voting altogether. If you cannot defeat us, you seek to delete us. Don't play with fire. Any threat to our democracy will be met with firm resistance,' Stalin warned. The DMK president also said Tamil Nadu would raise its voice in full force and would fight this injustice with every democratic weapon at its disposal. Using the hashtags #BiharSIR and #QuitSIR, Stalin called upon every citizen who believes in the Constitution to rise against the SIR.


Hans India
2 minutes ago
- Hans India
Kishan Reddy accuses Congress of betraying BCs with its reservation policies
Hyderabad: In a sharp critique of the Congress Party's reservation framework, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy accused Congress of deliberately misleading Backward Classes (BCs) with its proposed 42 per cent reservation scheme for local bodies, which includes a 10 per cent quota for Muslims. Addressing the media in the national capital, Delhi, on Friday, the Minister referred to a precedent set by former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, who introduced a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims under the BC-E category during his tenure. This action was struck down twice by the High Court. Although Congress later obtained a stay from the Supreme Court to continue implementing the reservation, Reddy contends that this move was 'unconstitutional' and detrimental to the core BC groups. Kishan Reddy alleged that Congress inflated BC population figures by including 10 per cent Muslims in the claimed 56 per cent BC demographic, reducing actual BC numbers to 46 per cent. He said that the party's attempt to hike the Muslim reservation quota from 4 per cent to 10 per cent within the BC framework is labeled as unjust. Referring to the GHMC elections, where 34 per cent BC reservations allegedly benefited AIMIM candidates, not genuine BCs, he added. Reddy emphasized that reservations historically apply to castes engaged in traditional hereditary occupations and accused Congress of diverting these benefits for political appeasement. He warned that, under the guise of uplifting BCs, Congress was actually diminishing the 34 per cent BC quota to 32% after merging the 10 per cent Muslim component. The Minister highlighted the BJP's achievements in promoting BC leadership, including the appointment of BC members to the Union Cabinet and the granting of constitutional status to the BC Commission. He contrasted this with Congress's alleged failure to elevate BCs to Chief Minister or Prime Minister positions since independence. Kishan Reddy criticized the Congress leaders' remarks questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's community. He clarified that Modi was included in the BC list in 1994 under the Congress-led government of Gujarat, which occurred before his political ascent. He also questioned the logic behind labeling several communities as 'converted' BCs, citing the inclusion of Vishwakarmas and the Lambada community in SC/ST lists over decades. Calling out Congress's decline in electoral relevance, Reddy asserted that the party had been rejected in key states and faced significant losses, including zero seats in Delhi. He attributed the recent personal attacks on Modi to frustration among Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy. He said that the BJP is demanding that local body elections be conducted in line with Telangana High Court orders and that the proposed 42 per cent BC reservations exclude Muslim beneficiaries. Kishan Reddy urged Congress to clarify who stands to gain from this model and challenged Revanth Reddy to resign as Chief Minister in favor of a BC candidate.


India Today
2 minutes ago
- India Today
Don't need your permission: Mahayuti ministers' letter war over meetings
A growing rift within Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti coalition has resurfaced, with Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena clashing with BJP Minister of State Madhuri Misal over departmental controversy erupted after Misal, responding to requests from MLAs, convened meetings and issued directives to officials—reportedly without informing or consulting Shirsat. This has fuelled speculation that the BJP is sidelining ministers from the Shinde-led Shiv a strongly worded letter, Shirsat accused Misal of holding review meetings without his approval and directed her to ensure that all future meetings are conducted under his chairmanship. 'We are aware that many meetings are being organised at my level in this regard. Therefore, for proper coordination from an administrative point of view, apart from the subjects which have been allocated to you, my prior permission is required to hold a meeting on other subjects,' he said in a letter to the BJP minister issued a sharp rebuttal, asserting her authority as Minister of State to convene review meetings without prior approval. She clarified that no official decisions were taken during these meetings, only suggestions were made, which she maintained were well within the scope of her responsibilities.'As the Minister of State for the Social Justice Department, I have the authority to hold review meetings of the department. I do not feel the need to take your prior permission to hold these meetings,' she said in a Shirsat to substantiate his claims of overreach, Misal denied encroaching on his authority. She cited the Chief Minister's directive to review 150 days of government work, asserting that her actions were well within her also noted that the division of duties between the Minister and the MoS, formalised on March 19, 2025, lacked the Chief Minister's approval, as mandated by the Maharashtra Government Rules of 1975. Despite this and the absence of formal departmental records, she said she had been discharging her duties without any row comes on the heels of Shirsat's earlier protest over funds being redirected from his department to populist schemes like 'Laadki Behen', highlighting simmering tensions within the has now approached the Chief Minister's Office seeking clarity on whether prior approval is required for such review meetings. Her pointed remarks have further deepened the rift between BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena leaders, raising concerns about coordination and authority within the Social Justice Department.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Maharashtra#Shiv Sena#Bharatiya Janta Party