Centre Government Compels Punjab To Levy New Taxes-Chandumajra

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5 Dariya News

Chandigarh , 31 Aug 2012

Last updated on: Aug 31, 2012, 00:00 IST

Shiromani Akali Dal’s general Secretary and Spokesman Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra today lashed at Congress led UPA for compelling Punjab government to levy new taxes to avail funds from the centre government under various schemes.In a statement issued here, Prof. Chandumajra said that Punjab government was forced to impose tax on urban property as Centre government has made this compulsory in its policy of granting funds to state for urban development. He said that if state government refused to impose this tax it has to be devoid of Rs 900 Crore urban development grant by centre government. He said that Centre government has refused to grant a fund of Rs 1100 crore last year for the same reason.Describing the Centre government’s act of centralising all administrative powers in its hands as undemocratic and anti people, Prof. Chandumajra said that conditions and instructions imposed by Centre government on state governments while issuing grants could not be justified in any case. He said that there was a strong need of planning at district level rather than at national level because every state has its own geographical, social and economic needs.Criticising the formula adopted by Centre government for paying back share in the central taxes collected from the states, Prof. Chandumajra said that on one hand centre government has repeatedly reduced this share and on other hand it imposed restrictions on states to use this.Describing Punjab Congress’s cry over new taxes mere a cheap publicity stunt, Prof. Chandumajra said that Congress leaders, who were well aware of reality, were doing so just to misguide the people of Punjab. He said that if the leaders of Punjab Congress have love for state in any corner of their heart than they should agitate at Delhi and pressurize the Congress led UPA government to mend its anti state policies and let states decide how to utilize the funds.Challenging Punjab Congress leaders to get the condition of property tax withdrawn from the Centre government in granting funds to the state, Prof. Chandumajra promised that if they succeed, Punjab government would immediately withdraw this tax. He said that not only this but taxes like service tax and VAT were also imposed by state government under the centre government’s pressure. He said that Punjab government has always tried its best to keep the underprivileged sanctions of society out of the circle while imposing these taxes. Prof. Chandumajra concluded that the only solution for this problem was to bring a real federal structure in the country and Shiromani Akali Dal along with other like minded parties would outline a program to achieve this goal.