Udupi: Chaos erupted in the City Municipality over revision of the licensing fee, the BJP in opposition locked horns with the ruling Congress demanding the scrapping of license fee revision draft. The general meeting held at the Udupi CMC witnessed heated arguments between the BJP and Congress councilors, the BJP councilors even tore off the tax revision draft.
Opposition leader M R Pai said that the trade license fee revision draft was placed as supplementary agenda which was not effectively discussed with the members. He also said that a high court order was in force which has indicated that taxes cannot be collected for revenue. The trade licensee fee revision draft is a deliberated effort by the Congress. The Municipal Act allows trade license draft up to rupees 500, but the City Municipality has revised the licensing fee by 300%. He also said that he opposes the draft and it can be only passed after discussion.
CMC Commissioner Manjunathayya said that the revision of the license fee will not affect the people as the licensing fee will be determined on the basis of the business or establishment.
M R Pai alleged that the CMC was collecting licensing fee without the fee revision, CMC Commissioner declined the allegation saying the CMC has informed the people to not pay trade licensing fee until the trade licensing fee is revised.
CMC President Yuvraj Puttur said that a special meeting was conveyed to discuss revision of licensing fee which was not attended by the opposition members. He also alleged that BJP was raising its voice against the licensing fee revision for gaining publicity.
Councilor Dinker Shetty Herga said that Congress in its election manifesto had promised that it will not hike taxes but it has created problems to the people by hiking taxes, in her rebuttal to Dinker Shetty’s statement Celina Karkada said that the BJP during elections had promised of depositing 15 lakh rupees to the account of every Indian.
It was later decided to have discussion on revision of the licensing fee in the coming sessions.
CMC Commissioner said that the revision draft will be published in newspapers for inviting objection, and then the gazette notification will be sent for approval to the state government, he added.
Voice was also raised against the Deputy Commissioner in the CMC meeting alleging that Deputy Commissioner was heading the committees of stadiums and beaches creating problems for the elected representatives.