Bengaluru, 21 Oct 

In a counter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "vote chori" barb around Karnataka, the State BJP on Tuesday levelled "tax chori" allegation against the party-led government over the conditions of the City’s infrastructure.

BJP leader R Ashoka accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of "tax Chori" (tax theft) and said the City deserves action to address its infrastructure woes, not excuses and intimidation.

Ashoka, the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, attacked the government by highlighting a citizens' forum's letter urging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene and direct the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) not to collect property tax from residents, complaining that civic works in their locality have led to flooding and poor road conditions.

"Mr Rahul Gandhi, Bengaluru has a new slogan: CONGRESS TAX CHOR HAI!" Ashoka said on X, alleging that the government is collecting taxes, but not building roads or fixing drains. "Thanks to the apathy of CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Bengaluru citizens are fed up and demanding: STOP THIS TAX CHORI!"

In a letter dated 13 Oct, addressed to the CM, the residents of the Varthur-Balagere-Panathur area, under the banner of the "Individual Tax Payers Forum" alleged that they have been suffering due to "half-measured, unscientific, and poorly coordinated" road white-topping and stormwater drainage works.

While not directly responding to Ashoka’s allegations, Siddaramaiah flagged an unfair tax devolution.

"We don't get a rupee from the Centre. Apart from Mumbai and Delhi, we pay one of the highest taxes; the people living in the City should know that out of every rupee Karnataka gives the Centre, as taxes, we get back only 14-15 paisa. Is this enough?" Siddaramaiah said. 

DKS PLEDGES RS 58 CR TO FIX SEVERAL CITY ROADS

The government inaugurated the “White Topping and Comprehensive Road Development” project in the Gandhinagar Assembly Constituency in the City on Tuesday.

Shivakumar said in a statement that the project, estimated for Rs 58.44 crore, will upgrade some 5,572 km of roads. The roads will include BT Road, Rangaswamy Temple Road, Sultanpet Main Road, Kilari Road, Hospital Road, Dhanvantri Road to Gubbi Thotadappa Road, BMTC Road, Tank Bund Road, and Race Course Road from Maurya Junction to Hare Krishna Junction.