New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS): The AAP and the Congress Tuesday slammed the Delhi government's decision to increase property circle rates by 20 percent and demanded its rollback.

While the Aam Aadmi Party questioned the timing of the decision, the Congress said that BJP-controlled Delhi government was "scheming" against the poor and middle-class people.

Headed by the Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, the Delhi government had Monday announced revision in circle rates citing prevailing high market rates at which property transactions are done in the city.

"The lieutenant governor and revenue department need to tell the people of Delhi what is the reason behind such a steep hike in circle rates at this time, when the Delhi Development Authority has announced its biggest ever housing scheme of 25,000 flats, which will be allotted shortly," the AAP said in a statement Tuesday.

"Won't this decision burden the new flat buyers? On what basis have the market rates been fixed ? Isn't the Delhi administration giving rise to speculative property prices, which will only end up burdening the common man ?" it added.

Besides criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress said that it was AAP which had initiated the process of hiking the circle rates which has been been implemented.

"This decision would not boost the revenue collection of the government, but this decision would definitely prevent the poor people in Delhi from owning a house," Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely said.