Tax Chori Allegations Stir Political Storm in Bengaluru

BJP leader R Ashoka accused the Congress government in Karnataka of 'tax chori' amidst infrastructure issues in Bengaluru. Citizens urged the Chief Minister to halt property tax collection due to substandard civic works. This mirrors the Congress's 'vote chori' accusation against BJP, highlighting escalating political tensions.

In a sharp political escalation, BJP leader R Ashoka has accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of 'tax chori', blaming it for the ongoing infrastructure woes in Bengaluru. Ashoka, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, criticized the government for neglecting essential urban development, underscoring his claims with a recent letter from a community forum.

The letter, sent by citizens to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demands a moratorium on property tax collections until issues with the city's infrastructure are addressed. Local residents argue that poorly executed civic works, like road white-topping and stormwater drainage installations, have exacerbated flooding and deteriorated road conditions in their areas.

This accusation comes as a political counter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's earlier 'vote chori' remarks directed at the BJP. As public dissatisfaction grows, significant business figures, including Mohandas Pai and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, have called for urgent governmental intervention to resolve Bengaluru's infrastructure crises.

(With inputs from agencies.)