Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Congress on Wednesday, September 9, staged a protest in front of the Mini Vidhana Soudha against the Central Government’s decision to close the Office of Principal Commissioner of Income Tax (Pr CIT) in Mangaluru and merge it with the IT-Office based in Panaji in Goa.
Lashing out at the top brass of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for the decision, former Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo said that the having the Office of Principal Commissioner of Income Tax (Pr CIT) in Mangaluru will help bolster the economic activities in the region as Dakshina Kannada is a major industrial centre. “The volume of trade in this part of Karnataka has no comparison to that of Panaji. Ever since the BJP came to power, the city’s economy has gone down miserably,” he said.
Lobo also pointed out to the fact that since the BJP’s rule began, many banks with roots in Mangaluru for decades were merged with other banks and called it a shame. He also alleged that the latest decision to move the IT office to Goa is a ploy by the local BJP leaders to systematically undermine the district’s stature as an economic powerhouse.
“The unimpressive infrastructure in the region had been a major deterrent to IT companies expanding their footprint there. The ‘Plastic Park’ has also remained only on paper and has not materialized even after so many years. The ‘blind bhakts’ need to open their eyes as we seem to be going 50 years backwards and doing injustice to the citizens. Surprisingly, none of the BJP leaders have the courage to speak,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA U T Khader said, “It is sad to note that the Central government is merging and privatising everything instead of developing and improving the government machinery and technology. This shows that the Central Government has failed miserably. Government officials who refuse to do what the government asks of them, they get transferred. It’s like we are under a dictatorship.”
Former MLC Ivan D’Souza, who was also present said, “After merging our local banks and privatising the Mangaluru International Airport, our local I-T office is being moved to Goa, which makes no sense. This is what happens people come to power very easily. They turn a blind eye towards the pain and suffering of people. Even if these BJP leaders, the BJP government, MPs or MLAs are alive, it feels like they are dead.”
Addressing the gathering, District Congress president Harish Kumar said, “For the past six years, the BJP government has done complete injustice to all the sections of society, with their decision to introduce GST, demonetization and senseless government policies. The BJP government’s decision to move the I-T office from Mangaluru to Panaji is really sad and bad news for nearly four lakh income tax payers in Dakshina Kannada. Three-time MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and self-proclaimed number one MP in the country, who is from Mangaluru, should be ashamed when the Mangaluru I-T office is being moved to Goa. He should resign if he can’t take any action.” He then demanded that the government withdraw their decision and retain the IT office in Mangaluru.
A memorandum in tghis regard will be submitted to Deputy Commissioner Dr Rajendra after the protest, he said.
Youth Congress President Mithun Rai, Former MLA Abhayachandra Jain, Corporators Sashidhar Hegde and Naveen D’souza, and other Congress supporters were present.
