Badal again blames Centre for ‘forcing’ property tax

He added: “Apart from Punjab,this tax has been implemented across the country on the Centre’s directions. We are left with no other alternative but to succumb to the Centre’s pressure and impose these taxes unwillingly.”

Meanwhile,Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar denied the SAD claims. “Badal is harping on the same story for a long time,but truth is that the Centre never made it mandatory for the state to implement property tax. There are many other ways,which could have been adopted by them. It is another thing that being totally bankrupt,property tax suited them best,” he said.

Claiming that urban development grants were in “continuous supply from Centre”,Jakhar said: “On March 4,we have released Rs 77.26 crore for urban development schemes but it is sheer negligence on part of state that they are not even aware of it. What is worse is that the state has started withdrawing the money meant for poor Dalit girls.”

Proposed property tax had led to high drama in Ludhiana a few days ago with Youth Congress members going on a hungerstrike for five days. Jakhar was in Ludhiana to make them end their fast. “We will continue to oppose the property tax and starting from Amritsar,protests will move on to other cities,” he added.

Meanwhile,responding to the Congress’ take on imposition of property tax in the state,Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said: “Instead of agitating in the state,they should stage a dharna before 10 Janpath and the Prime Minister’s Office for arm-twisting states to impose this tax. We had fought tooth and nail against the tax but the Centre forfeited our legitimate urban development grant of Rs 1,408 crore and laid a condition to impose property tax for releasing such grants to the state.”

“Let Bajwa first force the Centre to withdraw the draconian clause and ensure 50 per cent share to Punjab in central taxes,we will not impose any tax,” he added.