The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has slammed the BJP for opposing proposals to regularise 12,000 employees and complete house tax waiver for properties up to 100 square yards, 50% tax reduction for 100 to 500 square yard properties, and 25% rebate for 13,000 residential flats. Senior AAP leader MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak said the BJP’s resistance shows its hatred for Delhiites.
Despite BJP’s chaos, the AAP government passed both proposals. Durgesh Pathak called out BJP councillors for tearing the agenda, breaking the Mayor’s mic, and resorting to goondaism. He said the BJP, after 15 years of misrule, left MCD bankrupt and Delhi buried under garbage mountains.
In a press conference, senior AAP leader and MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak criticised the BJP for its repeated obstruction of the AAP-led MCD government, calling it a deliberate attempt to stall governance. He stated, “Ever since the AAP government was formed in the MCD, the BJP has been unable to accept it. Over the past two years, they have resorted to every possible tactic to hinder our functioning.”
“They prevented the election of the Mayor for four months, blocked the Standing Committee elections, and repeatedly disrupted House proceedings through physical altercations and chaos. They have systematically destroyed democratic and constitutional processes,” he added.
The senior AAP leader highlighted how BJP councillors have consistently disrupted MCD House meetings, obstructing discussions on key civic issues. He shared, “Today, an important MCD House session was convened, where elected councillors from across Delhi participate to deliberate on pressing issues and make crucial decisions. However, the BJP has turned every House session into a spectacle of hooliganism. They resort to misconduct, fights, and goondaism.”
Announcing key reforms in house tax, Durgesh Pathak detailed AAP’s pro-people decisions aimed at easing financial burdens on residents. He shared, “In today’s House session, we took significant decisions that will directly benefit the people of Delhi. Many residents have pending house tax dues for 10, 15, or even 20 years. Incorrect MCD readings have turned it into a tool for corruption and blackmailing by officials.”
“The AAP government has taken a bold step to put an end to this injustice. We have decided that if residents pay last year’s house tax, all previous remaining dues will be completely waived off. This is a historic decision—one that Delhiites have wholeheartedly welcomed. There could be no better relief than this for our people,” said the AAP MLA.
He further announced major tax reforms that would directly benefit thousands of households across Delhi. “We have decided that properties up to 100 square yards will have complete house tax exemption for the financial year 2025-26. For properties between 100 and 500 square yards, house tax will be reduced by 50%. Third, small shops under 100 sq. yards in residential colonies, which are currently burdened with multiple taxes, will now be exempt from house tax altogether.”
The senior AAP leader continued, “Moreover, around 13,000 flats in Delhi, which have never received tax benefits, will now get a 25% rebate if their owners pay house tax on time. These are landmark reforms—something the BJP never even considered implementing in decades of its rule.”
Durgesh Pathak also announced a long-awaited decision for MCD employees, ensuring financial stability for thousands of contractual workers. “MCD has over 12,000 temporary employees, some of whom have been working for 20, 30, even 40 years, yet they have never been made permanent. Their only demand is job security, which will also bring them better salaries and stability.”
“Under the AAP’s governance, we have turned MCD’s finances around—every employee now gets their salary on time, on the first of every month. Since our revenue position is now strong, we have decided to regularise these employees,” he stated.
The senior AAP leader slammed the BJP for its violent disruption of the MCD House session, calling it an unprecedented display of hostility towards Delhi’s people. He said, “These decisions directly benefit the people of Delhi, yet the BJP’s reaction was nothing short of disgraceful. Instead of supporting these pro-people reforms, BJP councillors created a ruckus—snatching the agenda from the Leader of the House, tearing it apart, climbing onto the Mayor’s chair, breaking mics and chairs, and resorting to outright goondaism.”
Durgesh Pathak condemned the BJP for its blatant disregard for democratic norms, questioning its priorities and commitment to public welfare. “If they disagreed with the proposals, they could have expressed their opposition in a civilised, democratic manner. But instead, they resorted to threats—talking about murder, bloodshed, and destruction. This proves one thing: the BJP has no interest in serving the people of Delhi.”
He further added that from 2007 to 2022, the BJP ruled MCD for 15 years, during which they did nothing. They bankrupted MCD, turned it into a hub of corruption, and buried Delhi under mountains of garbage. Now, when the AAP government is working tirelessly to bring MCD back on track—ensuring timely salaries, making the institution profitable, reforming tax collection, and implementing new policies—the BJP’s only agenda is to obstruct progress.
“This is a dark day in Delhi’s history, and every citizen will remember how BJP leaders and councillors shamelessly indulged in hooliganism inside the House,” asserted the senior AAP leader.
Despite the BJP’s disruptions, Durgesh Pathak congratulated the people of Delhi on AAP’s MCD government passing key resolutions that will soon be implemented. “Despite BJP’s shameful conduct, I want to congratulate the people of Delhi. Today, the AAP government has delivered two major reforms—house tax relief and the decision to make MCD employees permanent. The legal process will now follow, and soon, these decisions will be implemented on the ground.”
