Tax waiver for buildings in blue & white Tughlaq-like: BJP

Says they are doing it only to please one person, their leader Mamata Banerjee

The state BJP today said the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) decision to waive property tax for residential buildings painted in blue and white is a “Tughlaq-like decision” by the Trinamool Congress.

“This is like Muhammd-bin-Tughlaq. They are doing it only to please one person, their leader (Mamata Banerjee). We strongly protest this decision as KMC revenues will get affected for no substantial reason,” state BJP president Rahul Sinha told reporters here.

He asked KMC to explain on what basis the colour code of blue and white was chosen for the city. “What is Kolkata's relation with blue? If you chose a theme colour, there has to be logic behind it. It should represent the city's history, culture, legacy and tradition,” the BJP leader said, adding they were also exploring legal options to challenge the KMC decision.

“The KMC is short of funds to provide many services. So why are they giving tax exemption for this?" Sinha asked and recalled that the Left Front had started a trend of painting the city's monuments with red. “Tomorrow if there is a new government, then there will be a new theme colour,” he said.