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Hindustan Times
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: AAP presses for anti- defection law
Two days after UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria approved that the elections of the mayor, senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor will now be elected through a show of hands instead of the earlier secret-ballot method, the local unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday held a press conference and demanded the immediate implementation of the Anti-Defection Law in the Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC). The local unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday held a press conference. (HT photo for representation) In a press conference, Vijaypal Singh, president of the Chandigarh AAP unit along with city councillors Yogesh Dhingra, Hardeep Singh, Jaswinder Kaur, and party's general secretary Omkar Singh Aulakh, said, 'AAP has consistently fought for transparency and strengthening democracy in Chandigarh over the past year. After continuous engagement with the public, judiciary, administration, and even Parliament, the approval of the 'Show of Hands' voting system marks a shared victory of AAP and the people of Chandigarh.' 'But this reform represents 50% progress towards full democratic transparency. Anti-defection law is a must to ensure complete transparency and to curb casteism, ideological deviation, and political horse-trading', the leaders added. Leaders said that during the mayor elections on January 30, 2024, returning officer Anil Masih was caught on camera while tampering with 8 votes cast in favour of AAP–Congress alliance candidate Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor. 'This incident was described by the Supreme Court as a 'murder of democracy'. The election was cancelled and Dhalor was declared the mayor validly elected. In October 2024, AAP-Congress councillors led by Yogesh Dhingra, had approved an amendment to Regulation 6, recommending a shift from secret ballot to the 'Show of Hands' method for mayoral elections', they added. They said that AAP leaders then met deputy commissioner in January and had then filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court, demanding that the proposed secret ballot election scheduled for January 24 be cancelled and held via the show of hand system. 'Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari had also raised this issue in Parliament, advocating for a five-year mayoral term and open voting through the show of hands method at the national level,' they added.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Chandigarh MC house to meet today; major showdown on cards over property tax & parking rates
1 2 Chandigarh: The MC house meeting on Wednesday is set to be a stormy affair, with both AAP and Congress ready to corner the BJP on the issues of property tax hike and the proposed increase in parking rates. AAP Chandigarh spokesperson and councillor Yogesh Dhingra said, "AAP demands a full rollback of the property hike. The small reduction in the rate is just a political stunt by the BJP. Now the BJP wants to put an additional financial burden on city residents by increasing parking rates. Rates were already increased under the guise of introducing smart parking, but it is still to be done. AAP will take a strong stand in Wednesday's house meeting on these issues." Congress has also demanded a complete rollback of the property tax hike. In a pre-house meeting of the Congress councillors held under the leadership of Chandigarh Congress president H S Lucky on Tuesday, party councillors decided to voice their protest strongly and unequivocally during the house meeting. Stating it was BJP's strong opposition to the property tax hike and its subsequent efforts that led to a decrease in property tax rates, mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, on the proposed parking rates increase , said, "It is up to the house to decide parking charges. A revision in parking rates will facilitate the introduction of smart parking." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like CFD's: Investing $200 in Emaar Malls can give you a second income TradeLG Undo As per the proposed increase in parking rates, the first 15 minutes shall be free across all parking lots. Thereafter, four-wheelers will be charged Rs 20 for up to four hours of parking, Rs 25 for 4 to 8 hours, and for above 8 hours, an additional Rs 10 per hour. Two-wheelers will be charged Rs 10 for up to 4 hours, Rs 15 for 4 to 8 hours, and above 8 hours, an additional Rs 5 per hour. In addition to this, the MC is proposing to impose a compound penalty/interest on water bills. "A consumer who fails to pay the water charges, including arrears and surcharge/penalty thereto, if any, should be liable to pay a penalty at the rate of 10% of the total amount of water charges due, including surcharge, if any, due on the date from the consumer," said the agenda. Also, the MC is planning to revise the licence fee for erecting or re-erecting hedges and fences on municipal land. It has been proposed to increase the licence fee, to enhance revenue, from Rs 0.25 per sq ft per year to Rs 2 per sq ft per year for erecting/re-erecting hedges on municipal land adjoining residential areas on the road berm of V5 and V6 roads. Other key agendas - Lease deed on behalf of MC with private landowners for setting up a modular type sewage treatment plant for the treatment of wastewater generated from village Fadian. - Selection of an agency for the disposal of horticulture waste. - Allotment of land for setting up a critical care block (50-bedded) PM-ABHIM, Plot 5 in Pocket 1, Manimajra, in lieu of land at pocket no.14 Manimajra, Chandigarh. - Adoption of Haryana Fire and Emergency Service Act for Chandigarh. MSID:: 120737675 413 |
