KATHMANDU, Aug 28: Amid complaints that local bodies were imposing exorbitant taxes, top leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC) and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) have directed the elected officials of the local bodies representing their parties not to increase taxes in a way that would make the lives of the ordinary people difficult.

The main opposition party, NC, and the Tarai-based RJPN had summoned the local body representatives of their parties to Kathmandu to instruct them against fixing high taxes. Top leaders of the parties also asked the elected officials to launch various programs to provide relief to the people.

Addressing a function organized at NC headquarters in Sanepa, party president Sher Bahadur Deuba asked NC’s elected local body officials to properly utilize the rights given by the constitution to the local bodies. Deuba urged them to work to win the hearts and minds of the people.

“Please work in such a way that you can win people’s hearts and minds.  This will certainly help strengthen the future of both democracy and the party,” the president said. 

NC senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel asked elected officials not to demonstrate mentality akin to those during the Panchayati regime. “Your role is very important in uplifting the party from its current status. Please help NC, democracy and the country by working in transparent and impartial manner,” he said.

Similarly, NC Vice President Bimalendra Nidhi asked the elected office bearers to contribute to democracy and political stability along with their mandate to carry out development works.

Likewise, RJPN Coordinator Mahantha Thakur in a separate gathering of the party’s local body officials in Kathmandu on Monday instructed them against hiking taxes.

A press statement issued by the party after the conclusion of the gathering said no new taxes will be imposed at the local units governed by the RJPN. 

“The local units have no intention to impose additional taxes on the people. We want to caution the people against the elements that are trying to defame federalism through high taxes,” the statement said.

According to RJPN General Secretary Keshav Jha, RJPN lawmakers in the federal parliament, party secretariat members, RJPN mayors and deputy mayors and chair and deputy chairs of district coordination committees, among others, were present at the meeting. 

 
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