Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 9: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), National Conference (NC) and various other organizations condemned the levying of 12.5 per cent service tax on the chopper service at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and demanded immediate roll-back of the decision.
Stating that the BJP has conveyed its resentment to the Government on the issue of imposing surcharge on helicopter services to religious places, BJP State chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi during a press conference said that the party will never accept any such decision which is directly related to the sentiments of the people of the State and the same was opposed on the day first and the party is firm on its demand that it should be withdrawn. He was accompanied by State General Secretary Munish Sharma and State Spokesperson Balbir Ram Rattan.
National Conference staged a dharna outside the historic Raghunath Mandir in protest against Government’s decision to impose service tax on helicopter service to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and sought its immediate roll back. The protest was led by NC District President Urban Dharamvir Singh Jamwal.
National Panthers Party (NPP) activists held demonstration at City Chowk condemning the Government for imposing service tax on the Chopper service. The protestors including Anita Thakur, General Secretary, Bansi Lal Sharma, Advisor JKNPP, Jagdev Singh, Coordination General Secretary, Paramjit Singh Marshal, State President PTU, Sham Gorka, Vice-President PTU, besides many others raised slogans and demanded immediate roll-back of the decision.
Strongly condemning the Finance Minister for his justification for imposition of service tax on the Helicopter services to Mata Vaishno Devi, Harshdev Singh Chairman JKNPP and former Minister has lambasted the BJP for its imbecility and its second fiddle role in the coalition Government. He said that the levying of such tax would have its ramifications all over the country as the pilgrims from world over visit the holy shrine to pay their obeisance.
BJP leader and National Executive Member ST Morcha Ishfaq-Ur-Rehman Poswal said that Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu was misleading the nation by claiming that service tax has been imposed on all helicopter services in Jammu and Kashmir. Seeking immediate roll back of service tax on Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims, Poswal added that Drabu should know that BJP was the first party to raise its concerns over imposition of service tax and the Finance Minister was making irresponsible statements by saying that some parties were trying to communalize a simple administrative order applicable across J&K.
Flaying the decision of State Government of levying service tax on helicopter service at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Rakesh Gupta, Up-Samparkh Parmukh, Shiv Sena Bala Sahib Thackeray, State President Dimpy Kohli, general secretary GI Singh and Vikrant Kapoor, working president expressed serious concern over this issue and said it is unilateral, dictatorial and unjustified decision of Finance Minister. They asked the Government to review its decision or face the wrath of the people in the times to come.
Shri Ram Sena (SRS), State President, Rajiv Mahajan said that decision of imposing service tax has created strong resentment among Jammuites. He appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter and instruct the State Government to review the decision otherwise the people of Jammu will come on roads and hold protest against the coalition Government.
Senior Congress Leader, Former Minister and General Secretary PCC Dr Manohar lal Sharma expressed concern over the recent action of Government for imposing service-tax on the chopper services at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. He demanded immediate roll-back of the decision terming it as against the religious sentiments of the people. He warned the Government to desist from taking such type of decisions as it can create unwarranted atmosphere in the State.
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