Hoshiarpur : Daljeet Ajnoha/July 18 :
Senior BJP leader and former Cabinet Minister Tikshan Sud, in a press note, strongly condemned the Punjab Government’s decision to increase property tax by 5% on all types of properties starting from April 1, 2025. He said this move will severely impact the already burdened urban middle class, struggling with rising inflation.
Sud reminded that during the Akali-BJP government, the outdated and exploitative colonial-era house tax system was abolished and replaced with a rational and fair property tax regime. At that time, both the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party had strongly opposed the new system, even staging protests and demanding its rollback by alleging it was like being tenants in one’s own property. They promised to abolish the tax completely if they came to power.
However, Sud pointed out that after coming to power, both Congress and AAP not only retained the tax but have now increased it, further crushing the common people, especially the middle class. He stated that the urban middle class bears the maximum brunt of property tax, and this hike will hit them the hardest.
He further criticized the current government for already increasing charges for sewerage, water supply, fire NOC, CLU, building maps, license fees, etc., placing a massive financial burden on city residents. Now, with this property tax hike, it will become even more difficult for the public to survive.
Tikshan Sud demanded that the government immediately roll back the property tax hike.
He also questioned the Aam Aadmi Party, saying, “The same government which now cites financial compulsions for the tax hike should explain what happened to their tall claim that their IRS supremo would save ₹54,000 crore every year by ending corruption and spend it on development.”
