In the wake of Union government's move to withdraw wealth tax on farming community, Congress leaders of Majha on Wednesday demanded that the SAD-BJP government in Punjab reciprocate and withdraw the recent hike in power tariff as well as property tax, which has been deferred but not withdrawn.
“What use will the one-day special session of the Vidhan Sabha be since the Centre has already withdrawn the wealth tax, which the assembly was supposed to discuss? However, if the SAD-BJP government wants to make the session purposeful, it must make an announcement on the floor of the House to withdraw the power hike and the property tax,” Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) vice-president OP Soni said while talking to the media here.
Soni, who is incharge of Majha affairs of the party, made this demand in the presence of MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Harpartap Singh Ajnala, Dharamvir Agnihotri, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Lalli Majithia. Tejinder Singh Bittu, a Congress leader of Jalandhar, was also present.
Soni claimed that the entire credit for the withdrawal of the wealth tax must go to the Congress, including the Prime Minister, party president Sonia Gandhi and finance minister P Chidambaram. He also gave credit to PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa, Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others.
“Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal just enacted a drama and then tried to take credit. The truth is that the Congress has always stood by the farmers,” Soni added.
{{/usCountry}}“Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal just enacted a drama and then tried to take credit. The truth is that the Congress has always stood by the farmers,” Soni added.
{{/usCountry}}The Congress leader advised Badal to concentrate on development and improving law and order in Punjab “instead of claiming credit for something he never achieved”.