I see the points Eddie has made. The Congress hasn't put its manifesto
out but rather testing the waters by leaking out some issues on which
the election would be fought. The NRI commissioner is on the Congress
drafting committee and, hence, the NRIs should hope he would see that
nothing is in the manifestor that would hurt the interests of the
NRIs.
The non-occupancy tax could be on second homes and, obviously, those
who are renting their second homes need to pay taxes. In Canada, the
home owners must declare their earned income from rented homes or even
income from paying guests. When a person buys a new home, the builder
will ask is the home is for primary use of the buyers. If bought to
rent out or to for specuylative reasions, such as selling it later,
the buyer needs to pay tax.
It is important to find out why exactly this idea has been mooted. Is
non-occupancy tax is on those who rent out their properties or is it
also applied to second homes that may lie vacant? If included in the
manifesto, other parties should express their views. The electifon
game has just begun. The parties are keeping their guards up.
Interesting times are ahead. The manifestos of other parties have
always not been relieased but some leaks are coming out from those who
hold the fortunes of respective parties. By and large, the manifestos
will harp on the same issues that we hear about now. How much each
manifesto, particularly of the national parties, will differ from each
other ideologically is to be seen. Don't be surprised if the
manifestos agree more with each other than disagree.
Once the manifestos are out then the voter will get a chance to study
them and see the differences.
Also funny that Kamat wants to make it applicable by force or
Ordinance and not by legislative means. Lawyers on the forum can
explain in better terms want the law would mean once it is
implemented. Better still,"people of substance" such as Eduardo
Faleiro can explain through his office would it entails for the NRIs.
Don't someone on this forum has a hotline to the NRI office?
Eugene
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