Cops lathicharge Congress workers

KOTA: The police lathicharged around 500 Congress party supporters who were taking out a procession in protest against Kota Municipal Corporation for imposing urban development tax.
"It was a peaceful procession till it reached the corporation office. There the gate broke and the policemen started beating us with their canes," said Govind Sharma, Congress district level chairman.
Sixteen members have been arrested and a few landed in MBS Hospital with injuries.
"The urban development tax has not been introduced today. We are recovering Rs 1 crore tax of this and last financial year," said Shivprasad Nakate, municipal commissioner.
"In a survey conducted by us in 2005, it was found that the corporation has to collect Rs 26 crore to Rs 28 crore of taxes. We gave notices to property owners for the recovery," said Nakate.
"The urban development tax notices were never given before. The corporation started doing this after it was announced that Kota would be made a smart city," said Shiv Kant Nandwana, secretary, Pradesh Congress Committee.
The corporation has given notices to house owners and shop keepers stating that their properties would be seized if they don't pay the UD tax. Around 8,000 notices have reportedly been issued.