Tax hike issue snowballs

Failure of yesterday8217;s meeting with the district collector over the issue, has both action committees to launch an indefinite hunger strike from today.

Among the 27, who have begun on an hunger strike at two different places, 12 owe allegiance to the anti-property tax action committee while 14 are Shiv Sena-BJP activists. The action committee members including Congress MLA Prakash Avade are fasting near Mahatma Gandhi8217;s statue in this powerloom town. Some 100 metres away are another group of 15 Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party activists.

An all-party delegation, which met district collector Arvind Singh yesterday to discuss the issue, demanded that serving of property tax notices to citizens of Ichalkaranji should be immediately stopped. There more than 30,000 property tax payers in Ichalkaranji. They also referred to a resolution passed at a special general body meeting of the Ichalkaranji Municipal Council on October 8. The resolution while denouncing the hike, called for its cancellation.

However, this resolution was stayed by district collector and serving of the notices began. The collector informed the delegation yesterday that no immediate decision regarding vacating the stay over the resolution could be taken. He also informed them that Minister of State for Urban Development, Ravindra Mane, has called a special meeting to discuss the issue on November 6 at Mantralaya.

Hidden under the garb of the hike battle is a totally different story. Claiming credit when and if ever the issue is solved, underlines the issue. Hence, the two different fasts. Ichalkaranji had observed a total bandh on Saturday over the issue. This call was given by the Shiv Sena-BJP. Following the bandh, on Sunday, the Janata Dal-led Nagrik Aaghadi took out a morcha. On Monday there was another bandh, sponsored by the Anti-Porperty Tax Hike Action Committee owing allegiance to the Congress and Communist Party of India Marxist.

Today, the Nagrik Aaghadi has expressed support to fasting activists of the action committee. At the same time, both the action committee and Aghadi have given an indefinite Ichalkaranji Bandh call from November 6, the day when minister will hold the meeting.

This call is to protest what the action committee terms murder of democracy8217;.

Said Suryaji Salunkhe, a senior CPM leader and action committee activist, 8220;It is unfortunate that the minister has invited the government officials and activists of Shiv Sena-BJP to participate in the meeting. We were the first to launch an agitation and we have been sidelined. This move is a clear signal that they want to steal the credit. It is sad that such a genuine issue is being used to gain political milege8221;.

To strengthen their own positions, both the groups have organised a series of meetings over the issue. The action committee has invited MLAs R R Patil, Lakshman Dhoble and Narsayya Adam to address the meetings. The Shiv Sena-BJP activists are also likely to declare their list of speakers soon.

When contacted, Ashwini Kulkarni, sub-divisional officer of Ichalkaranji said she was hopeful that a solution to the issue will be arrived at soon at the ministers8217; meeting. Regarding the bandh call, she said the district administration will take necessary steps.