‘Stop Property Tax Terrorism’: BJP MLAs Slam D.K. Shivakumar Over BBMP Tax Policies

By Bangalore Mail News Bureau

BENGALURU: High-tension drama unfolded during the ongoing budget session as BJP legislators from Bengaluru launched a scathing attack on Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The opposition leaders accused the Congress-led government of unleashing “property tax terrorism” on the citizens of Bengaluru.

The controversy centers on the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) recent tax collection drives and the implementation of the new Self-Assessment Scheme (SAS) rules.

Allegations of Harassment

Led by former ministers S. Suresh Kumar, R. Ashoka, and S.R. Vishwanath, the BJP MLAs staged a protest, claiming that the BBMP is unfairly penalizing property owners. They argued that the civic body is using “draconian methods” to recover arrears and is misinterpreting tax categories to slap heavy fines on unsuspecting residents.

“The government is treating honest taxpayers like criminals,” said a BJP spokesperson during the session. “They are issuing notices with retrospective penalties and 2% monthly interest, which is effectively crushing the middle class. This isn’t tax collection; it’s property tax terrorism.”

The Core Issues

The opposition highlighted three primary grievances:

1. Zonal Classification Errors: Many residents who filed taxes under certain zones years ago are now being told they are in higher-value zones, leading to massive backdated demands.

2. Commercial vs. Residential: BJP MLAs alleged that the BBMP is arbitrarily classifying residential properties as commercial to increase revenue.

3. The Penalty Burden: The opposition demanded a waiver on the heavy penalties and interests currently being levied on technical errors made during the self-assessment process.

Demands for Reform

The BJP legislators have demanded an immediate stay on the issuance of “harassment notices” and a simplified tax structure that doesn’t penalize citizens for minor technical discrepancies in their SAS filings.

As the standoff continues, many Bengaluru residents—already grappling with infrastructure woes—are watching closely to see if the government will offer any relief or continue its aggressive tax collection drive.