DOLAKHA, Aug 22: Nepali Congress on Tuesday staged a protest in the district headquarters of Dolakha demanding the local bodies withdraw arbitrarily hiked taxes without any further delay.

The rally which started from NC's Charikot-based district office encircled the office of Bhimeshwar Municipality for an hour before converging into a mass meeting.

Locals are utterly disappointed with the government after the municipality imposed additional taxes on various heads including land evaluation, endorsing housing designs, land transaction, issuing recommendations from the local authorities and income tax. Backed by the locals, the NC leaders have warned of intensifying their protest unless the government backtracks from its decision to enforce the taxes haphazardly.

NC leader Ishwar Narayan Manandhar complained that the government is crossing its limits by imposing additional taxes even while issuing essential documents such as birth registration certificates, recommendation required to obtain citizenship cards and other important documents on the service seekers.

“We had given one week's deadline to withdraw the decision to hike taxes. But they did not heed our demand so we were forced to stage the protest,” said Rajesh Kumar Shrestha, NC's chief of Bhimeshwar Municipality, adding, “We will continue the protest if the government does not reduce the increased taxes.”

NC leader Ishwar Narayan Manandhar complained that the government is crossing its limits by imposing additional taxes even while issuing essential documents such as birth registration certificates, recommendation required to obtain citizenship cards and other important documents on the service seekers.

“Going against the peoples' aspirations, the local governments are imposing taxes haphazardly. That must be withdrawn,” said Manandhar.

 
• dolakha
 
• nepalicongress
 
• taxhike