Hundreds of Congress workers led my former Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira held a dharna on Saturday to protest against the move of the Shiromani Akali Dal to declare Nadala a nagar panchayat.
Addressing the gathering, Khaira said, "People of the area will be burdened with home tax, property tax besides increase in registration fees if Nadala is converted into a nagar panchayat."
"The villagers will also lose the benefit of 5% relaxation in fee to students of rural areas and government employees lose their 6% allowance," he said.
Talking to HT, Khaira said, "It is the biggest gram panchayat in Bholath constituency where the Congress is ruling for the past 25 years. SAD failed to win the confidence of people here. So they want to declare it a nagar panchayat and delimiting and reserving certain wards to ensure victory of their candidates."
The protesters were seen carrying placards to oppose the move. They took out a protest march through the bazaars of Nadala.
Nadala sarpanch Parveen Kumari, while addressing people, said, "For the last five years, government has not issued any development grant to Nadala. On the other hand, the condition of civic amenities in other three nagar panchayats of Bholath is very poor and we would end up on the losing side if the government changed its status to gets its hold over Nadala."
{{/usCountry}}Nadala sarpanch Parveen Kumari, while addressing people, said, "For the last five years, government has not issued any development grant to Nadala. On the other hand, the condition of civic amenities in other three nagar panchayats of Bholath is very poor and we would end up on the losing side if the government changed its status to gets its hold over Nadala."
{{/usCountry}}Khaira warned that if the government went ahead with its decision, they would move the Punjab and Haryana high court to save the interests of the villagers.