Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam condemns hike in taxes, cadre stage demonstration in Erode

TVK cadre protest against DMK government's tax hikes in Erode, demanding immediate withdrawal to ease burden on people.

Condemning the DMK government for increasing various taxes that affect the people, cadre of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) staged a demonstration at Veerappanchatiram bus stop here on Friday, in the party’s first protest in the district since its formation a year ago.

Led by M. Balaji, Erode Urban District Secretary, the party cadre raised slogans against the hike in property tax, registration charge, electricity tariff, garbage tax, and water taxes, slamming the government for the “unprecedented increase”. They pointed out that while property tax had remained unchanged for 10 years, it was raised by 100% after the DMK came to power. They alleged that the Erode Corporation had increased the tax two times compared to other Corporations.

The protesters also complained that the civic body failed to provide adequate time for taxpayers, thereby placing an additional burden on the people, and lamented that the delay in tax payments resulted in fines, legal action, water supply disconnections, and seizure of property.

The protesters urged the civic body and the State government to withdraw the tax hikes forthwith.