On Wednesday(18th September),The Karnataka BJP condemned the Siddaramaiah government after Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao challenged the “exorbitant” BBMP taxes in High Court. BJP Bengaluru Central District President Sapthagiri Gowda expressed shock that a state minister had to take legal action over the city’s high tax rates.
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BENGALURU: On Wednesday(18th September), the Karnataka BJP strongly condemned the ruling Siddaramaiah government after Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao filed a case in the High Court opposing the “exorbitant” taxes levied by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Sapthagiri Gowda, President of the BJP Bengaluru Central District, while speaking at a press conference held at the party headquarters, expressed astonishment that a state minister had to resort to legal action over the city’s soaring tax rates.
“The fact that a state minister goes to court over the steep increase in taxes in Bengaluru shows the mirror to its government,”
-he said.
Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and his wife, Tabassum Gundu Rao, recently approached the Karnataka High Court, contesting the 16 types of taxes the BBMP levied on them. These taxes, imposed as part of the approval process for their building plan, amounted to a substantial Rs.41 lakh. In response, the court has issued notices to several government agencies regarding the matter.
Sapthagiri Gowda, reflecting on the issue, remarked-
“Since the Congress government took power in Karnataka, it has been imposing heavy taxes on the common people. Our party has been consistently protesting and raising awareness about this issue.”
Gowda went on to explain that the writ petition filed by the Health Minister and his wife is a clear indicator of the tax problem.
“They approached the BBMP to alter the building plan, and subsequently went to court after receiving a notice from the BBMP demanding payment of approximately Rs 45 to 50 lakh in taxes and cess.”
-he noted.
The BJP leader further questioned-
“If this is the situation for the Health Minister, what about the common people?”
His statement highlights the broader impact these tax hikes have on Bengaluru’s residents, especially the middle and lower-income groups.
Criticizing the development initiatives spearheaded by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Gowda stated that these tax increases are unjustified.
He pointedly said-
“Repeated tax hikes have been made in the process of building ‘Brand Bengaluru’,”
suggesting that these hikes have worsened living conditions in the city.
He also emphasized the poor state of infrastructure, pointing to roads filled with potholes.
“The situation is deplorable, with potholes on roads remaining unfixed. In areas like Chickpet and Balepet in Gandhinagar, finding a decent road is a challenge. While potholes have been patched on some main roads and the city has been declared pothole-free, this is far from reality. The smaller roads are in dire condition.”
-Gowda stated, illustrating the stark contrast between official claims and ground reality.
“The ministers themselves have now become an example of the tax hike,”
-Gowda remarked, referring to the fact that a high-ranking government official like Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had to challenge these taxes in court.
He further criticized the lack of accountability and accessibility in Bengaluru’s governance, lamenting that citizens cannot reach out to local officials due to the absence of municipal elections.
“If municipal elections had been held, the public would have had the chance to address their concerns directly with corporators and officials. Instead, people are enduring significant hardship due to the heavy tax burden, and even ministers are now turning to the courts, which clearly reflects the severity of the situation.”
-Gowda noted, emphasizing how the administrative gap is affecting Bengaluru’s population.
Minister Rao and his wife had applied to the BBMP to approve a building plan for a commercial complex on their property. However, the BBMP issued a demand notice requiring them to pay hefty taxes under multiple sections. In response, the couple filed a petition, and Justice Ashok S Kinagi has since issued notices to the BBMP, Urban Development Department, and the Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation Formation Department, requesting them to submit objections to the petition.
The counsel for Minister Rao argued that the demand notice issued by the BBMP was illegal. They contend that Rao should be allowed to proceed with the construction of the commercial complex without being subject to such hefty taxes. The counsel argued that the imposition of these taxes as part of the building plan approval process was unwarranted.