The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday backed the Federation of Associations of Maharashtra’s (FAM) demand for an alternative tax regime to weed out Local Body Tax (LBT) from the state. At a meeting with the trade body, AAP leaders decided to back the alternate proposal drafted by a FAM-appointed panel headed by former municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar. AAP national convenor Mayank Gandhi said the traders’ association had proposed an alternate efficient source of revenue in lieu of octroi or LBT whereby the government could get more revenue by merely increasing the value added tax (VAT) by one per cent. “The traders don’t mind paying tax, but they have issues with regard to another level of license raj. In places where the LBT has been in force, traders face a lot of harassment and corruption. Simplifying tax system is in line with our party’s ideology, and is something which our government in Delhi is already working towards,” said Gandhi. FAM, which has submitted its proposal to the state government, plans to launch a state-wide agitation in February in case the government fails to respond. mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com Priest begins enrollment drive for AAP Mumbai: Hot on the heels of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement of a nation-wide membership drive, followers and members of the party have started initiatives to enroll citizens in the city. A drive was organised at Kalina on Wednesday afternoon by Ram Sevak Tiwari, a priest of the Sri Hanuman Mandir, and a member of the AAP. Basing it out of the temple, he provided people with forms. At present, the most popular methods of membership are through SMSes and online applications, but Tiwari provided an alternative to those who may be unable to avail those facilities. He plans to continue with the drive everyday till January 26. Tiwari said, “Imandar party ke saath mein hoon. (I am with an honest party) We need a prime minister who is like Arvind Kejriwal to save the country from corruption.” (Shreya Ramann)
