Vijayawada: APUCF seeks withdrawal of municipal laws, stages stir

Vijayawada: Demanding withdrawal of the amendments to the municipal laws enhancing the property tax basing on the value of the property, Andhra Pradesh Urban Citizens Federation (APUCF) staged protest demonstrations in front the offices of municipal corporations and municipalities throughout the State on Wednesday.

At Guntur, Ch Babu Rao, convener of APUCF participated in the protest demonstration along with MLC Lakshmana Rao, members of apartment welfare associations, joint action committees and others in front of the Guntur municipal corporation on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering, MLC Lakshmana Rao came down heavily on the government for passing the amendments to the municipal laws enhancing the property tax basing on the value of the property in spite of the objections raised by the MLCs of Progressive Democratic Front (PDF).

Babu Rao said that the State and the Central governments were more interested in levying heavy taxes on people when they were supposed to help people to overcome the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. The new property tax system would make people poorer by several thousands of crores of rupees.

Moreover, the government was levying user charges on garbage collection and other civic amenities. He said that the YSRCP and the BJP administrations which indulged in verbal duel on the attacks on temples were unanimous in levying more taxes on people.

Babu Rao exhorted the State government to hold discussions with all the political parties, civil associations and people's unions. He said that the APUCF would hold another meeting on Friday to decide the future course of action.