Traders,councillors in Kharar join hands against levy of property tax

Beopar Mandal,which is spearheading the protest against the levy,has served a week’s ultimatum to the council to formally withdraw the property tax,failing which traders will launch a massive agitation.

Sukhwant and MC vice-president Jai Bhagwan Singla,along with municipal councillors Shashi Lamba,Jagjeet Singh and Kamal Kishore Sharma,have supported the traders’ demand. They plan to call upon Chief Minister Parkash Singh

Badal and Cooperation Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh to demand tax exemption.

After meeting the municipal chief and the councillors at the MC office today morning,Beopar Mandal representatives,Ashok Sharma,Naresh Singla,Vinod Kapoor and Rajinder Aggarwal,conveyed the decision at a general house meeting of the traders held at Nanoomal Dharamsala in the evening.

Several traders,who are protesting the hefty bills running into thousands of rupees as annual property tax on commercial units,pressed for a token strike for withdrawal of the levy.

Leaders of Beopar Mandal,however,insisted that traders must wait for a week,since the civic body has sought time for resolving the issue.

The presidents and representatives of associations representing chemists,kiryana merchants,cloth merchants,jewellers,shoe shop owners,paint and hardware merchants,commission agents,halwais,readymade garment sellers,general merchants and electronics dealers resolved to fight for permanent withdrawal of property tax.