New Delhi

BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh criticized Congress and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday for the alleged toilet tax introduced by the Himachal Pradesh government. He accused them of overseeing a government that consistently breaks promises. Reports have surfaced claiming that the Himachal Pradesh government plans to charge a fee of Rs 25 for each toilet, igniting significant controversy between the two parties.

Chugh emphasized, Gandhi and Congress are leading a government known for breaking promises. The Leader of Opposition is becoming synonymous with unfulfilled commitments across the country, whether in Karnataka, Telangana, or Himachal. He pointed out that the Congress party has not delivered on any of its promises so far.

Instead of following through on their pledges, he stated that old loans are being reclaimed, and the Himachal government is imposing new taxes and restrictions, revealing its economic and policy failures. Mothers and sisters in Himachal are still waiting for the promised Rs 1,500 per month. Meanwhile, the government continues to impose new taxes rather than meeting the needs of its people, Chugh added.

In response to the controversy, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu dismissed the claims of a new toilet tax as baseless, clarifying that the state is only charging Rs 100 for water connections.

CM Sukhu denies the existence of a toilet tax in Himachal Pradesh amid controversy

New Delhi

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu denied reports on Friday claiming a new Rs 25 toilet tax in the state, calling them baseless. He explained that the government charges Rs 100 per family for water connections, but this charge is optional, not mandatory. This clarification comes amid backlash over allegations that the state was taxing toilets in urban homes.

Sukhu mentioned that a recent notification allowed for water and sewerage billing, with some confusion suggesting that 25% of the water charge would be attributed to the alleged toilet tax. This has drawn criticism from the BJP, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressing disbelief and stating that it shames the country. The BJP’s Amit Malviya described the move as bizarre. Sukhu also criticized the previous BJP government for financial mismanagement and urged them to stop politicizing the situation.